Minister Li Ganjie and his Canadian counterpart Catherine McKenna presented at the first China-Canada Environmental Ministers' Dialogue on Dec. 9 in Beijing. The two sides had in-depth discussions on the latest environmental policies and developments in respective countries, the progress of bilateral environmental cooperation, and the cooperation under the framework of CCICED.

Li introduced the progress China has made over the past few years in building ecological civilization and protecting the ecological environment and the major plans rolled out at the 19th National Congress of the CPC. Over the past five years, China has been more aware of the importance of ecological and environmental protection than ever before, made unparalleled efforts in pollution control, introduced relevant institutions more often than ever, launched compliance inspection that outdo any previous inspections, and improved the environmental quality at an unprecedented high speed.

The 19th National Congress has come up with a raft of new philosophies, requirements, objectives, and plans for building ecological civilization and preserving the ecological environment, stressed Li. We will fully implement the guiding principles of the Congress, work to adopt green growth models and lifestyles, address pressing environmental problems including the air, water, and soil pollution, strengthen the ecosystem conservation and restoration, improve the ecological management institutions, uplift ecological civilization in all respects, and build a beautiful China.

Li also introduced the central environmental protection inspection, which is a major reform measure advocated by President Xi Jinping under the framework of the institutional reform on ecological civilization. The reform has covered all of the 31 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities and made notable progress in raising the awareness on ecological conservation and green development, solving pressing environmental problems, promoting industrial structure transformation and upgrading, and urging the local areas to establish long-term mechanisms for building ecological civilization and protecting the ecological environment.

China and Canada have made notable progress in the cooperation in the areas of water environment management, chemicals management, and environmental emergency response, said Li. China hoped that the two sides would charter news areas and explore new ways of cooperation, enhance the environmental industrial and technological communications, and work together to build green belt and road.

Madame McKenna responded that the bilateral cooperation has been fruitful. Canada has made useful explorations in clean air, biodiversity conservation, water resources protection, and environmental impact assessment, and is looking forward to strengthening the bilateral cooperation under the framework of CCICED and making contributions to global sustainable development.