China, Japan sign cooperation deals on energy saving, environmental protection

TOKYO -- Officials, entrepreneurs, experts and scholars from China and Japan discussed cooperation and inked agreements on 26 cooperation projects at the 13th China-Japan Comprehensive Forum on Energy Saving and Environmental Protection here on Sunday.

Some 800 people attended the forum co-organized by the National Development and Reform Commission, Ministry of Commerce, Chinese embassy in Japan, and Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, and the Japan-China Economic Association.

Deputy Director of the National Development and Reform Commission Zhang Yong briefed the attendants about China's achievements in recent years in energy saving, emission reduction and development of environment-friendly industries.

Noting that this year marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, Zhang said China will continue to open up to the outside world at a higher level and improve the quality of the ecological environment at a new historical starting point.

He urged Japanese enterprises and institutions to take an active part in China's energy conservation and environmental protection and work together to promote green and sustainable development.

China and Japan should strengthen policy communication and coordination, deepen bilateral practical cooperation, jointly explore the international market and boost people-to-people exchanges and cooperation, so as to deepen cooperation in energy conservation and environmental protection, he added.

Attendants held discussions on energy saving, circular economy, development of intelligent vehicle and new energy vehicle, clean coal technology and coal-fired power generation, as well as China-Japan long-term trade.

The two sides inked 26 cooperation projects in various areas, including energy saving, circular economy, pollution prevention and control, hydrogen energy and green technology innovation.

The China-Japan Comprehensive Forum on Energy Saving and Environmental Protection, first held in 2006, has seen agreement achieved on a total of nearly 400 cooperation projects and provides a good platform for enterprises, research organizations and local governments of the two countries to enhance cooperation.