China

On October 19^th, 2000, the Italian Ministry for the Environment, Land and Sea (IMELS) and the Chinese Ministry of Ecology and Environment  (MEE – former Ministry of Environmental Protection), jointly launched the Sino-Italian Cooperation Program for Environmental Protection – SICP, in order to promote the cooperation on environmental protection and sustainable development in China.

The visit to China by Minister Gian Luca Galletti (30 October - 4 November 2014) marked a decisive moment for the re-launch of the partnership between Italy and China through the signature of a Joint Statement between the IMELS and MEE, which strengthened the cooperation on a new basis, with the contribution of private investments and greater involvement of companies. Priority is given to training for the development of technologies with a low environmental impact aiming at a model of sustainable development that offers new economic opportunities in favor of Italian and Chinese companies in the framework of the development plans and priorities indicated by the two governments.

During the long-term cooperation with China, several Chinese institutions have been involved and agreements are still underway with: the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE), the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), the Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST), Beijing Municipality (Beijing EPB), Tsinghua University, Shanghai Municipality (Shanghai EPB), Tianjin Municipality (Tianjin EPB), National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), Tongji University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT).

The collaboration with the State Forestry Administration (SFA) and the Ministry of Water Resources (MWR) has already been concluded.

Since 2000, projects and programs have been implemented in 31 of Provinces, Autonomous Regions and Municipalities in China, in the following areas:

• protection and conservation of natural resources (sustainable agriculture, air pollution control, management of water resources, prevention of soil contamination, management of solid waste);
• promotion of renewable energy sources and energy efficiency;
• economic and technological transformation for low emission development;
• sustainable agriculture;
• institutional strengthening, support for urban planning and ecological construction;
• combating global climate change and its negative effects through a greater adaptation to the International Climate Conventions;
• sustainable transport;
• awareness campaigns and environmental education.

In addition, over the years, the Sino-Italian Cooperation Program for Environmental Protection has supported the participation of Italian companies in some of the most prestigious environmental fairs in the Chinese context, such as the China International Environmental Protection Exhibition & Conference (CIEPEC), the IE Expo, the China-Italy Science, Technology & Innovation Week.

Of particular importance is also Sino-Italian Capacity Building Program which, since 2003, IMELS has launched on several topics of environmental management and sustainable development, and which is addressed to technicians, young professionals, academics, and decision-makers coming from administrations, universities and Chinese companies. The program has been enriched over time by the participation of all the main Chinese institutions responsible for environmental matters, and it has so far trained about 10,000 participants throughout 260 courses which took place both in Italy and in China. Over 600 study-tours have been organized and over 150 Italian companies have been visited.

In order to foster and promote opportunities for the private sector in the context of an institutional partnership, the cooperation activity, besides the ongoing collaboration activities, was based on three directives:

• Closer cooperation with the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE), with the Municipality of Beijing, and with the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) ;
• Participation in events and fairs;
• Participation and involvement of the private sector in such projects.

For further information, you can contact the Help Desk dedicated to Italian companies interested in environmental technology exchange opportunities in China (contact person: Ms. Tan Jialu; e-mail: helpdesk@sicppmo.org).