On April 17, Corrado Clini, the former Italian Environment Minister, visited China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation (CBCGDF) to exchange ideas on circular economy with Dr. Zhou Jinfeng, Secretary General of CBCGDF, and the delegate from the International Department. Ms. Arvea of Italian consultation company, GcM, was also connected into the conversation.

At the meeting, Dr. Zhou introduced CBCGDF’s efforts in biodiversity conservation as well as the background and reasons for the proposal to revise Circular Economy Promotion Law of the People's Republic of China. Mr. Corrado Clini and Ms. Arvea are preparing the speech on an international conference about the China-EU 2020 Strategic Agenda for Cooperation, which will be held on May 13, 2019, in Brussels, Belgium. They expressed great interest in CBCGDF's suggestion on it and raised several questions. Numerous scholars, professionals, and policy-makers from China and the EU will attend this international conference. This conference aims to evaluate the challenges and progress in Sino-Europe relations and collect suggestions from all parties.

Dr. Zhou pointed out that to develop a circular economy is an important strategy for ecological civilization construction, economy, and social development. An era of ecological civilization emphasizes to respect nature, follow its ways, and protect it. To give priority to resource saving and utility maximization is the respect to nature. CBCGDF stresses to reduce emission and encourages efficient and sustainable utilization of resources, recycling, and biosafety disposal of nonrecyclable materials. Chinese enterprises should actively take social responsibility for promoting the development of the circular economy.

Corrado Clini heard CBCGDF's indicators of Gross Ecosystem Product (GEP), and relevant calculation methods, which serve as a breakthrough to promote ecological civilization construction and green development. Taking the GEP indicators as the basis, the practical evaluation mechanism of the ecosystem can be set up. Therefore, scientific and transparent supervision, management, assessment and administration of enterprises can be realized. 

At the end of the meeting, Corrado Clini said that to integrate European and Chinese theories of circular economy and the technologies is the cooperative key point in the future.

China should learn from advanced experienced. The exchanges of both parties guided by the framework of ecological civilization construction facilitate to explore the way for circular economy and green sustainable development in China.

(Photo credit: CBCGDF)

Original Chinese article:

http://www.cbcgdf.org/NewsShow/4937/8374.html

By / Wang Yanqing