Beijing, Moscow vow cooperation at environmental protection forum

Environment
Beijing and Moscow are giving priority to environmental protection in their cooperation plan over the next three years.

China SCIOUpdated: November 7, 2017
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Beijing and Moscow are giving priority to environmental protection in their cooperation plan over the next three years, according to the Beijing Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau.

In the Moscow-Beijing Environmental Protection Forum held on Nov. 2, officials and experts from China and Russia shared their experience in environmental governance.

According to officials, the cooperation plan (2018-2020) signed by the two capital cities gives prominence to environmental protection. Over the next three years, the two cities will collaborate on environmental issues such as urban landscaping, ecological protection and climate change.

Moscow has put forward 14 plans to make the city more livable, including environmental legislation, rational use of resources, purchase of environmentally friendly vehicles, environmental technology R&D and so on, said Moscow City Duma deputy Zotova Zoya.

Irina Shiryaeva, an official from Moscow environmental protection bureau, said that Moscow is a city with concentrated industries, population and vehicles. In order to reduce emission, the government is actively adopting innovative technologies in transportation. A total of one million old vehicles have been phased out since the emission standard was upgraded in 2012. At the same time, Moscow designated a low-emission area downtown and pushed to develop electric vehicles. Thanks to these measures, vehicles emission was cut by 80 to 90 percent.

Igor Makarov, professor at the Russia Economic School, said the two cities should seize various opportunities to collaborate on ecological protection, especially in terms of education. The youth from China and Russia are encouraged to study abroad through education programs.