'Broad space' in green sector for China-Japan cooperation

China is willing to work with Japan to deepen cooperation on green and low-carbon development and address climate change, senior officials said on Sunday.

"China and Japan, as friendly neighbors, partners as well as important countries in Asia and the world, share common interests on a wide range of issues and broad cooperation space," said He Lifeng, head of the National Development and Reform Commission, the country's top economic regulator.

He noted that the two countries are slated to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the normalization of their diplomatic relationship next year. "China is willing to work with Japan to achieve economic recovery, promote green development and improve people's lives, led by the carbon peak and neutrality goals."

He made the remarks at the 15th China-Japan Energy Conservation and Environmental Protection Forum, a pillar in the environmental cooperation efforts between the world's second- and third-largest economies.

During the forum, he called for expanding high-level opening-up in the Asia-Pacific region, increasing dialogue and exchanges about policies and deepening cooperation on energy conservation and environmental protection between the two countries.

"China's energy-saving and decarbonization initiatives will also boost investment and create huge market opportunities as well as room for cooperation," He added. "We welcome the business communities from Japan to actively participate."

Looking ahead, He said China will promote the green transformation of energy in an orderly manner, push for upgrades of the industrial structure, accelerate the application and development of green and low-carbon technologies and improve the policy support system in fields such as building an investment and financing system that is compatible with carbon peak and neutrality goals.

In response, Hagiuda Koichi, who heads Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, highlighted the importance of cooperation on energy conservation and environmental protection between the two countries, saying it will help promote energy transformation and foster green development.

Ren Hongbin, vice-minister of commerce, noted that China and Japan enjoy broad cooperative prospects in green and low-carbon development, and both nations should contribute to their green development and the global economy.

Citing China's ambitious goals of peaking carbon dioxide emissions before 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality before 2060, Ren said the two sides should work together to deal with the challenges from climate change, strengthen coordination and exchanges about policies, create a fair business environment and continue to deepen cooperation on energy conservation and environmental protection in third-party markets.

According to Ren, the two nations will renew the Sino-Japanese memorandum of understanding on energy conservation and environmental protection technology cooperation under the framework of the Sino-Japanese long-term trade agreement. They are also exploring the negotiation of a memorandum of understanding on strengthening investment cooperation in the field of green development, which will provide new impetus to fostering practical bilateral cooperation.

During this year's conference, the two sides signed 11 cooperation agreements. Since 2006, 413 cooperation agreements have been signed at the annual forums.