Speech by Chairman Luo Zhaohui at High-level Dialogue on Strengthening China-Africa-UN Collaboration on Climate Change

Speech by Chairman Luo Zhaohui at High-level Dialogue on Strengthening China-Africa-UN Collaboration on Climate Change

(15:00, May 27, UN Compound in Beijing)

Honorable Mr. Siddharth Chatterjee,

Resident Coordinator in China, 

H.E. Ambassador Willy Bett,

Excellencies,

Ladies and gentlemen, 

Good afternoon!

It's my great pleasure to attend today's High-level Dialogue on Strengthening China-Africa-UN Collaboration on Climate Change co-hosted by the UN in China and the Embassy of the Republic of Kenya in China.

Friends,

Climate change is such an important topic related to our daily life and future generations. As the Chinese saying goes, man can conquer nature. Today, the humans land on moon, but we are not able to call winds or rains. However, relying on the joint efforts of the humans, the goal will definitely be realized. 

We are suffering from climate change. Addressing it is a cause shared by all. 

China is implementing the Paris Agreement. We have announced double carbon strategy, and decided to stop building new oversea coal-fired power stations. 

To address climate change, China provides support and assistance to African countries and small island states, as well as other developing countries.

We have strengthened our policy dialogue with African countries, and we speak with one voice. In November 2021, the 8th Ministerial Conference of FOCAC adopted the Declaration on China-Africa Cooperation on Combating Climate Change, and reaffirmed the need to reinforce South-South cooperation on climate change. We have signed 48 South-South cooperation documents on climate change with 40 partner countries.

China has taken a lot of practical actions to address climate change. More than 200 projects have been carried out to support African "Great Green Wall" Initiative; We have built pilot demonstration zones for water-saving irrigation in Mauritania, Nigeria and Ethiopia. We have trained thousands of relevant talents for African countries. Under the framework of the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund, CIDCA has implemented more than 50 projects to deal with tropical storm, food shortage and etc.

Friends, 

Nearly three years ago, President Xi Jinping put forward the Global Development Initiative, fully in line with the SDGs, including climate change and green development. CIDCA, in charge of China's foreign aid and international development cooperation, has been coordinating GDI implementation. It is our responsibility to actively participate in and promote global climate governance. CIDCA is ready to work with all partners, to continuously increase support for Africa to combat climate change.

Firstly, carrying out solid cooperation. China will go on providing stronger financial and technological support to African countries on climate change through bilateral and multilateral channels. For example, CIDCA has mobilized $12 billion commercial fund under the GDI, and also run Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund with $4 billion. The highest priority of above-mentioned finances is focusing on African countries. We encourage more applications to use it. CIDCA has implemented a series of new energy projects such as photovoltaic, wind power and hydropower.

We are also discussing with UNDP to establish projects on climate information and early warning system in 6 countries as the first stage. Of course, it is a direct response to the "Early Warning for All" initiative proposed by the UN Secretary-General. We also signed a joint statement with UNDP and Ethiopia， to set up a tripartite cooperation demonstration center in Ethiopia to help Africa achieve industrialization, agricultural modernization and personnel training.

Secondly, CIDCA provides 2 platforms for the policy dialogues on climate change. We will co-host with the Maldives the third China-Indian Ocean Region Forum on Blue Economy this August in Male. African countries around the Indian Ocean rim are most welcomed to participate. This forum is in line with the UN "Ocean Decade". We also welcome UN agencies to join us. This July, we will host the Second High-Level GDI Promotion Conference. Parties concerned can take this opportunity to discuss green development for future.

Thirdly, boosting capacity building. China has launched the "Blue Talent Program", which will carry out a hundred special training programs of green development, disaster response and relief, ocean planning and etc. More educational opportunities will be created for developing countries to improve their capacity and resilience to cope with climate change. Last August, President Xi Jinping announced that China would help train 20,000 African talents.

Fourthly, China will not only focus on South-South cooperation, but also the North-South dialogue on climate change. We are fully aligned with the African Climate Summit and fully support Nairobi Declaration. Developed countries should meet their funding commitments. Of course UN should continue to play a leading role on addressing climate change.

China stands ready to work with Africa, the UN and other partners to intensify actions to meet challenges, safeguard our common blue planet together, and greatly promote the implementation of the SDGs.

Thank you.