Sejong, October 6 - On September 28, the Ministry of Environment of ROK (Minister Han Wha-jin) virtually held the "6th Korea-China director-general-level meeting on the environment". During the meeting, the two countries discussed strengthening cooperation to reduce fine particles and achieving carbon neutrality. In addition, the two countries discussed establishing the "2nd Korea-China Environmental Collaboration Plan 2023-2027", which will entail the blueprint of environmental cooperation between the two countries for the next five years. The two countries also had a chance to check the "Blue Sky Plan"'s progress in dealing with air pollution and climate change together. Director-General of Climate Change Policy Bureau Ahn Se Chang of the Ministry of Environment and Deputy Director-General of China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development Zhou Guomei of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment attended the meeting as a Head of Delegation. 

Marking the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Korea and China, the two countries agreed on the need for cooperation on current environmental issues such as fine particle reduction and carbon neutrality. They decided to finalize the "2nd Korea-China Environmental Cooperation Plan," a five-year plan starting in 2023, during the annual ministerial meeting of the environment scheduled early next year. Later, the two countries will have a follow-up meeting of the working group to discuss the details of the cooperation plan, such as the areas and scope of cooperation.

The two countries checked the progress of the "Blue Sky Plan," which was signed by the two countries to respond jointly to air pollution and climate change. The Blue Sky Plan comprises nine projects, including air pollution prevention policies, technology exchange, and exchange of policies on carbon neutrality and greenhouse gas. The two countries assessed that the Blue Sky Plan shaped environmental cooperation through policy and technology exchange, joint research, and technology commercialization. They agreed to develop the plan constantly. The two shared air pollution prevention policies, technologies, and results of seasonal management measures for air pollution. They also discussed technology and policy development on reducing fine particles and air pollution during the meeting. The two countries will open the outcome of the cooperative projects during the Blue Sky Conference, which is scheduled to be held virtually in October. At the conference, the two will also establish ways of strengthening policy and technological exchange in the areas of carbon neutrality and greenhouse gases. 

They also discussed the two countries' coordination for multinational environmental cooperation. In particular, the two countries agreed to cooperate in adopting the Post-2020 Biodiversity Framework during the UN Biodiversity Conference (COP15), which will be chaired by China and held in Canada from December 7-19, 2022. 

Ahn Se Chang, Director-General of Climate Change Policy Bureau of the Ministry of Environment, said, "We will further strengthen our cooperation to solve shared environmental issues, such as reducing fine particles and responding to climate change. The Ministry of Environment will expand the two countries' exchange to solve the environmental issues in Northeast Asia." 

Contact: Oh Suk-joo, Deputy Director

International Cooperation Division/ +82-(0)44-201-6573

Foreign Media Contact: Chun Minjo(Rachel)

+82-(0)44-201-6055 / rachelmchun@korea.kr