Bilateral Relations

Framework Statement for Cooperation on Environment into the 21st Century Between the Government of Canada and the Government of The People's Republic of China

The Government of Canada and the Government of the People's Republic of China (hereinafter referred to as "Both Parties") share a commitment and responsibility to sustainable development. Our collaboration benefits from our various experiences as nations of vast landscapes with diverse populations, topographies, and climates. Both Parties recognize a mutual interest and will benefit from expanded cooperation on environmental issues.

Both Parties have in place a number of specific agreements and arrangements including the General Agreement between the Government of Canada and the Government of the People's Republic of China on Development Cooperation; the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperative Meteorological Programs: the Memorandum of Understanding on Environmental Cooperation; and the Memorandum of Understanding on Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency.

Both Parties are also working successfully together through the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development in support of the Chinese government's efforts to promote environmentally sustainable development.

To prepare for the 21st century, both Parties have developed the following framework within which to cooperate further on the environment

• Environmental cooperation between Both Parties should continue to be guided by the principles contained in bilateral agreements as well as international declarations and agreements such as the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol.
• Both Parties will continue to strengthen existing bilateral cooperation on a broad array of environmental issues.
• Both Parties will develop and implement cooperation projects to address the challenge of climate change.

Cooperative bilateral activities will continue to be pursued in areas such as atmospheric issues. water resource management, waste management, cleaner production, energy efficiency, forestry, sustainable agriculture and biodiversity, through such means as institutional capacity building, human resources development, awareness building and demonstration projects.

Cooperative projects and activities under this framework may take the form of the transfer of no or low greenhouse gas emission technologies; training; development of policies and strategies, regulations, standards, codes and their compliance measures; mobilization of private sector investment; collaborative research and knowledge exchange through visits of experts and the organization of seminars and symposia.

These activities may be undertaken at the project level relating to greenhouse gas emission reduction through energy - efficiency, conservation, alternative fuels, transportation and cleaner production; enhanced carbon sinks; climate monitoring and prediction; and adaptation to the effects of climate change and climate variability.

Both Parties will seek early opportunities for cooperation in efficient state-of-theart technologies under the Clean Development Mechanism.

Both Parties will actively encourage and support governmental organizations and agencies, academic and research institutions, non-governmental organizations, state enterprises and the private sector to establish and strengthen linkages and pursue joint projects and initiatives accordingly.

Both Parties will, through relevant departments, agencies and commissions, maintain regular dialogue and exchanges of views on activities pertinent to this framework including matters related to climate change.

A Canada-China Joint Committee on Environment Cooperation will be set up to coordinate activities in relation to this framework. The representatives of relevant departments, agencies and commissions related to environment from Canada and China shall be included in the Committee. The State Environmental Protection Administration will lead the Chinese side in the Committee. Environment Canada will lead the Canadian side in the Committee. On a regular basis, progress on implementation will be reported to respective governmental leaders.

Done in Beijing. this 19th day of November 1998 in English, French, and Chinese languages: