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Read in Chinese

Speakers:

Ye Min, vice minister of ecology and environment

Sun Zhen, person in charge of the Department of Climate Change under the Ministry of Ecology and Environment

Chairperson:

Xing Huina, deputy director general of the Press Bureau of the State Council Information Office (SCIO) and SCIO spokesperson

Date:

Oct. 27, 2021

Xing Huina:

Ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon. Welcome to this press conference being held by the State Council Information Office (SCIO). Today, the SCIO issued a new white paper titled "Responding to Climate Change: China's Policies and Actions." We are holding this press conference to introduce and interpret the white paper.

Under the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization, the white paper elaborates on China's policies, actions and achievements in responding to climate change since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), as well as the country's proposals for improving global climate governance. At around 19,000 Chinese characters, the white paper consists of preface, main body and conclusion. The main text is divided into four parts: "China's New Responses to Climate Change," "Implementing a National Strategy of Actively Responding to Climate Change," "Significant Changes in China's Response to Climate Change" and "Building a Fair and Rational Global Climate Governance System for Win-Win Results."

The white paper is published in eight languages — Chinese, English, French, Russian, German, Spanish, Arabic and Japanese — by the People's Publishing House and the Foreign Languages Press. It is available at Xinhua Bookstore outlets across the country.

In order to help you gain a better and more accurate understanding of the white paper, we have invited Mr. Ye Min, vice minister of ecology and environment, and Mr. Sun Zhen, person in charge of the Department of Climate Change under the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) to attend today's press conference. They will introduce relevant information and answer your questions. Now, I will give the floor to Mr. Ye.

Ye Min:

Ladies and gentlemen, friends from the media, good afternoon. Welcome to the press conference on the white paper "Responding to Climate Change: China's Policies and Actions." First of all, I would like to thank you, friends from the media, for your long-term care and support for China's efforts to respond to climate change.

Climate change is a stern challenge for all of humanity, and calls for joint responses from countries around the world. The sustainable development of the Chinese nation and the future of the planet depend on tackling it successfully. As an active promoter and a firm practitioner of climate action, China attaches great importance to its response to climate change. China's response to climate change is an important part of its pursuit of eco-environmental progress, and a sure way to change the development model and achieve sustainable development.

Under the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization, we have achieved notable progress in implementing a national strategy of actively responding to climate change over the past years. Based on a comprehensive review of China's responses to climate change, we organized the compilation of this white paper. This is the second time that China has issued a white paper on its response to climate change at the national level after the first publication in 2011. The main text of the new white paper includes "China's New Responses to Climate Change," "Implementing a National Strategy of Actively Responding to Climate Change," "Significant Changes in China's Response to Climate Change" and "Building a Fair and Rational Global Climate Governance System for Win-Win Results." The document elaborates on China's philosophy, policies and actions concerning its response to climate change since the 18th CPC National Congress, especially during the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-2020). It showcases the country's progress and achievements in addressing the challenges, and its contribution to global climate action. The white paper also offers a systematic picture of China's proposals and approaches to climate change.

Since the 18th CPC National Congress, China has advanced its climate action and achieved progress in the following ways: carbon intensity has been significantly decreased; energy mix and industrial structure have been steadily optimized; institutional mechanisms for low-carbon development have improved; solid steps have been taken in building a national carbon market; a number of low-carbon models of development with distinctive features have emerged; the ability to adapt to climate change has been reinforced; and public awareness of pursuing green, low-carbon lifestyles has considerably increased.

At the same time, the Chinese government actively and constructively participates in global climate governance. The Chinese government adheres to the principles of multilateralism, as well as common but differentiated responsibilities, attaches great importance to international cooperation on climate change and joins international negotiations on climate change, carries out in-depth South-South cooperation on climate change, promotes the conclusion and accelerated implementation of the Paris Agreement, and leads the new pattern of global climate governance with Chinese ideas and practices, and has gradually become an important participant, contributor and leader in building a global ecological civilization.

In 2020, President Xi Jinping made a major announcement regarding carbon peak and carbon neutrality, demonstrating China's determination to pursue green and low-carbon development and join hands with the international community to tackle climate change. This is a significant strategic decision made after careful consideration by the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, coordinating the domestic and international situations. In the next step, we will resolutely implement the decisions and arrangements, while continuing to advance climate change initiatives.

The 26th United Nations Conference of Parties on Climate Change (COP26) will be held in Glasgow, UK. This conference will finalize negotiations on the remaining issues of the implementation rules of the Paris Agreement. Meanwhile, China has embarked on a new journey of building a modern socialist country, entering a critical period of comprehensive green transformation for economic and social development and shifting from quantitative change to qualitative change in ecological environment. At this moment, it is significant that we release the white paper, "Responding to Climate Change: China's Policies and Actions," to enhance domestic and international understanding of China's climate action, and share Chinese wisdom and solutions.

Responding to climate change is a cause shared by all of mankind. China will continue to implement its proactive national strategies on climate change, incorporate carbon peak and carbon neutrality into the overall layout of constructing an ecological civilization, and make every effort to respond to climate change under the new situation. China is also willing to work with the international community to promote the comprehensive, balanced and effective implementation of the Paris Agreement, jointly build a fair, reasonable, cooperative and win-win global climate governance system, and start a new journey in the global response to climate change.

Next, my colleagues and I are willing to answer questions from media friends. Thank you all!

Xing Huina:

Thank you, Mr. Ye, for your introduction. Now you are welcome to ask questions. Please let us know the news organization you are from before asking questions.

CCTV:

What is the difference between today's white paper on climate change and those of the past? Secondly, what do you think is the biggest opportunity for China to deal with climate change? What are the other challenges? Thank you.

Ye Min:

Thank you for your questions. Regarding the white paper, as I just mentioned, in 2011 the State Council Information Office released the white paper "China's Policies and Actions for Addressing Climate Change (2011)." Then, from 2012 to 2020 we released "The Annual Report of China's Policies and Actions for Addressing Climate Change" every year and continue to inform the public of the progress and efficacy of China's climate change response.

Since the 18th CPC National Congress, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has attached great importance to the work on climate change and implemented proactive national strategies on climate change. The work of tackling climate change has undergone historic and transformative changes, from understanding to conceptualizing and through to practice, while achieving world-renowned results. The white paper released this time systematically expounds upon General Secretary Xi Jinping's new ideas, new thinking and new strategies regarding China's response to climate change. It also provides a comprehensive overview of China's policies and measures to address climate change and all of the results since the 18th CPC National Congress, especially during the 13th Five-Year Plan period. Moreover, it systematically outlines China's path and plans to address climate change, and fully reflects China's important contributions and tremendous efforts to the issue, all of which demonstrates that China proactively shoulders the international responsibility for climate change as well as the responsibility and accountability of building a community with a shared future for mankind. At the same time, the most recent white paper reiterates China's stance and proposition on global climate governance and offers advocacy proposals and appeals to the international community to build a fair, reasonable, cooperative and win-win global climate governance system.

Regarding opportunities and challenges: Green and low-carbon development is not only a world trend but also a new engine of economic growth, as well as a new development opportunity for the future. The CPC Central Committee is far-sighted, makes precise deployments, seizes this period of strategic opportunities, and sets mid- and long-term goals and visions for addressing climate change. It regards an active response to climate change as a key task in advancing high-quality development and high-level ecological protection, which shows China's initiative to assume the international responsibility of responding to climate change and its role in promoting the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind.

In recent years, China has adopted a series of strong policy measures to adjust the industrial structure, optimize the energy structure, maximize energy efficiency, increase forest carbon sinks, and improve adaptability to climate change, while achieving remarkable results. As of the end of 2020, China's carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP had dropped by 48.4% compared to that of 2005, exceeding the 40% to 45% target that China had previously promised to the international community. At the same time, top-level design has been continuously improved, the construction of market mechanisms has been promoted, and public awareness has been raised, forming a solid situation and environment in which the efforts to address climate change continue to advance.

However, at the same time, our country is also faced with difficulties and challenges in dealing with climate change. As the world undergoes major changes unseen in a century, the rise of unilateralism and protectionism is also complicating the international situation in addressing the climate change issue. China pledges to achieve carbon neutrality around 30 years after peaking carbon dioxide emissions. The timeframe has been greatly shortened compared to that of major developed countries. Hence we are faced with more difficult tasks related to energy and industrial transformation. As the biggest developing country in the world, China is facing multiple challenges including developing its economy, improving living standards, curbing pollution, safeguarding energy security and so on. Additionally, we still have problems of unbalanced and inadequate development. At present, we also have deficiencies and weaknesses in the aspects of cognitive level, policy tools, measures and foundational capabilities when dealing with climate change. However, under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee, we are fully determined and capable of completing the arduous tasks of achieving peak carbon emissions and carbon neutrality. 

Next, we will ground our work in this new stage of development, resolutely implement the new development philosophy, foster a new development pattern, adhere to a systematic approach, and properly handle the relationships between development and emission reduction, the whole and parts, as well as the short term and the mid and long term. We will bring peak carbon emissions and carbon neutrality into the whole layout of the eco-civilization construction, unswervingly follow the path of green, low-carbon and high-quality development that gives priority to ecology, and resolutely carry out national strategies featuring proactive responses to climate change, in a bid to achieve peak carbon emissions and carbon neutrality on schedule. We will continue to make contributions to deal with global climate change. That is all from me. Thank you.

CNR:

Is China optimistic about COP26 to deal with the unresolved issues regarding the implementation of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement? What efforts will be made? Thank you.

Ye Min:

Thank you. Mr. Sun will answer your questions.

Sun Zhen:

Thank you, Mr. Ye. Thank you for your questions. The primary task for COP26 is to complete negotiations over the detailed rules for implementing the Paris Agreement, especially the market mechanism, that is, the unresolved issues under Article 6. They are the foundation and precondition for all parties to effectively implement the Paris Agreement in an all-round manner, as well as an important symbol of maintaining the trust in the multilateral mechanism among the international community, especially the industrial and commercial sectors. We expect all parties to work together in the same direction. Developed countries should take more constructive actions and fully demonstrate flexibility, uphold the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, adhere to nationally determined goals and policies, and avoid retrogressive stances and even renegotiations over issues where consensus has already been reached.

Here are some key aspects. First, we hope the market mechanism can provide developing countries with financial support so they can better adapt to climate change. Adapting to climate change is a major concern for developing countries. At present, the funds provided by developed countries are far from meeting the needs of developing countries in this respect. China advocates providing stable and predictable financial support to help developing countries adapt to climate change. In particular, we expect developed countries to demonstrate a positive and constructive attitude so that all parties can work together to find reasonable solutions.

The second is the relationship between the emission reductions under the market mechanism and nationally determined contributions (NDCs). No parties should be required to adjust their NDCs due to the transfer of mitigation outcomes. At the same time, China understands the concerns of some parties over this rule. Therefore, we are willing to set a reasonable time limit based on the coverage of NDCs and other factors. We kindly request relevant parties to clarify the coverage of their NDCs when participating in the market mechanism.

The third is about the transition issue of emission reductions achieved before 2020. We hope to sustain the confidence and enthusiasm of industrial and commercial sectors in the market mechanism of the Paris Agreement. All parties should be allowed to use their certificated emission reductions before 2020 toward their NDCs and engage in emissions trading. For this purpose, we would like to explore some compromise solutions. China is willing to work together with the United Kingdom, which holds the presidency of COP26, and adhere to the multilateral process in an open, transparent, inclusive, party-driven, and consensus-based manner. We will maintain close communications and coordination in a bid to complete the agenda and negotiations over the unresolved issues regarding the implementation of the Paris Agreement. Thank you. 

People's Daily:

Mr. Ye, my question is what progress and achievements have been made regarding our country's response to climate change? What's the plan for the next step? Thank you.

Ye Min:

Thank you for your questions. China attaches great importance to dealing with climate change. China's responses to climate change are an important part of its efforts to achieve eco-environmental progress. In recent years, China has implemented a national strategy of actively responding to climate change and made positive progress through a series of policy measures including adjusting industrial structure, improving the energy mix, conserving energy and improving energy efficiency, establishing market mechanisms, and increasing forest carbon sink. The progress is mainly reflected in the following aspects:

First, China has effectively limited greenhouse gas emissions. China's carbon intensity in 2020 decreased by 18.8 percent compared with that in 2015 and dropped by 48.4 percent compared with that in 2005, which means that China had more than fulfilled its commitment to achieve a 40 to 45 percent reduction. China has basically reversed the rapid growth of its carbon dioxide emissions. Second, China has made progress in optimizing its energy mix. In 2020, China's non-fossil energy contributed 15.9 percent to China's total energy consumption, an increase of 8.5 percentage points compared with 2005. China has significantly reduced its reliance on coal consumption and made prominent progress in optimizing its energy mix. Third, China has constantly improved the national carbon market. A national market for trading carbon emission rights was officially launched on July 16, 2021. In its first performance cycle, China's power generation industry had a total of 2,162 major enterprises, covering over 4.5 billion tons of carbon emissions each year, making the market the world's largest in terms of the amount of greenhouse gas emissions covered. In addition, China has launched pilots and demonstrations on low-carbon development, constantly improved its ability to adapt to climate change, and raised the awareness of low-carbon development in all sectors of society. While addressing climate change at home, China has actively participated in global climate governance. It has played a historic role in promoting the conclusion, entry into force, implementation and formulation of detailed rules and regulations of the Paris Agreement. We also have actively engaged in South-South cooperation on climate change and helped other developing countries – in particular least developed countries, African countries, and small island countries – build a capacity to fight climate change.

In 2020, President Xi Jinping announced the goals to peak carbon emissions and achieve carbon neutrality. The CPC Central Committee made important arrangements for the related work. Recently, the CP China Central Committee and the State Council jointly released a document titled "Working Guidance For Carbon Dioxide Peaking And Carbon Neutrality In Full And Faithful Implementation Of The New Development Philosophy" and an action plan for peaking carbon emissions before 2030. China is accelerating its work on the 1+N policy system for peaking carbon emissions and achieving carbon neutrality.

In the next step, we will further implement the decisions and arrangements of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council. First, we will work actively to meet the goal of the 14th Five-Year Plan 2021-2025 on climate change. We will allocate the binding targets of reducing the carbon intensity by 18 percent to local governments. Second, we will promote actions to peak carbon emissions, push forward the implementation of the 1+N policy system framework for peaking carbon emissions and achieving carbon neutrality, and promote the building of an economic system that facilitates green, low-carbon, and circular development. Third, we will reinforce the coordination between responding to climate change and protecting the eco-environment. We will decrease the emissions of both pollution and carbon, and strive to achieve synergy and efficiency. We will also step up the formulation of an implementation plan for synergizing the reduction of pollution and carbon emissions. Fourth, we will continue to improve the building of the national carbon market. We will move forward on the introduction of provisional regulations on the administration of carbon emission rights trading . On the basis of a well-functioning carbon market in power generation industry, we will gradually expand the market to cover more high-emission industries. Fifth, we will advance the development of relevant systems, and implement a system that focuses on carbon intensity control supplemented by total carbon emission control. We will also establish the statistical and accounting mechanism and data management mechanism for greenhouse gas emissions, as well as a long-term mechanism for compliance. Sixth, we will raise public awareness of low-carbon development, and continue to promote the campaign of the National Low Carbon Day, so as to ensure that production modes and people's lifestyle become green and low-carbon. Seventh, we will ensure the preparation and implementation of a national strategy of adapting to climate change for 2035, and improve the ability of urban and rural construction, agricultural production, and infrastructure to adapt to climate change. We will also strengthen observation and assessment of climate change impacts. Eighth, we will continue to actively participate in international climate change negotiations, and step up efforts to build an equitable global climate governance regime that is cooperative and beneficial to all. Moreover, we will continue to carry out South-South cooperation on climate change. That's all. Thank you.  

Cover News:

General Secretary Xi said that addressing climate change is not something that others asked us to do; we are doing so on our own initiative. How do you understand this remark? How will addressing climate change affect China's economic and social development? Thank you.

Ye Min:

Thank you. General Secretary Xi Jinping has stressed many times that addressing climate change is not what others asked us to do; we are doing so on our own initiative. It is essential to China's sustainable development, and shows our commitment to the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. Coping with climate change is an important starting point to promote China's high-quality economic development. We will continue to inject power into high-quality economic development by establishing and improving an economic structure that facilitates green, low-carbon and circular development, building a clean and low-carbon energy system, advocating for a green and low-carbon lifestyle, and promoting the adjustment of economy, industry, energy, transportation and consumption structure. Coping with climate change is also an important part of high-level ecological environment protection. It will forge great synergy with pollution control, ecological protection and other measures, and will improve environmental quality from the source, enrich environmental governance means, improve environmental governance efficiency, and save environmental governance costs. Addressing climate change is also China's effort and contribution to promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. China adheres to the principles of multilateralism and "common but differentiated responsibilities;" actively participates in and leads global climate governance; promotes the comprehensive, balanced and effective implementation of the Paris Agreement; firmly supports the reasonable demands of other developing countries; continuously promotes the global climate governance system to be more fair, reasonable, beneficial and cooperative; and promotes the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

Coping with climate change well is significant to accelerating the formation of a new development paradigm with the domestic market as the mainstay and domestic and overseas markets reinforcing each other. It is also significant to exploring a new way of high-quality development that gives priority to ecological conservation and green development. This is both a challenge and an opportunity. 

As the largest developing country, China is still facing imbalances and inadequacies in development, and shoulders a series of arduous tasks, such as developing the economy, improving people's livelihoods, and controlling pollution. Given these facts, in the process of coping with climate change and achieving carbon peak and carbon neutralization, we should realistically base ourselves on China's national conditions, development stage and actual capacity; take a systematic approach to overall development; and properly handle the relationship between development and emission reduction, overall and local development, and short-term and medium and long-term development. We must also make steady, orderly and scientific deployment, and achieve solid progress.

At the same time, we must fully realize that taking stronger actions to deal with climate change and taping the huge potential of greenhouse gas emission reduction brought by the development of new economy, new technology, new business forms, institutional and policy innovation and reform in various fields are important driving forces to promote high-quality development. This will continue to inject impetus to green and low-carbon development, promote the comprehensive green transformation of the economy and society, and realize the fundamental transformation of development modes. Thank you.

Sky News:

China burns more coal than the rest of the world combined. It's still adding to coal power. In the document released today, you said you will only gradually reduce that. At the same time, you are asking other countries to drastically reduce their emissions. How long will that peak of coal use last? Why is apparently China prioritizing short-term economic growth over the future of the planet? Secondly, we've heard about the leadership of President Xi Jinping. Will he be attending the COP26? If not, why not? Thank you.

Ye Min:

Whether President Xi Jinping will attend the COP26 will be answered by our diplomatic department. You asked about the consumption and development of coal. This issue is of great concern to the public. I would like to ask Mr. Sun to introduce some specific situations and our considerations.

Sun Zhen:

Thank you, Mr. Ye, and thanks for the questions. The questions are long. I think you are mainly concerned about some recent situations, while you also raised a question on the relationship between short-term and long-term development. I will answer them briefly here.

It should be noted that energy is the basic guarantee and basic condition for economic and social development and people's livelihoods. In the long run, it is also the driving force for the progress of human civilization. At the same time, for the future, if we want to achieve sustainable economic and social development, it is particularly urgent to achieve clean and low-carbon development in the field of energy. In recent years, China has vigorously promoted the adjustment, transformation and upgrading of its energy structure, shifting its energy production structure from coal-based to diversified, and its energy consumption structure has become increasingly low-carbon. In 2020, the proportion of China's coal consumption in the total energy consumption decreased from 72.4% in 2005 to 56.8%. Meanwhile, the consumption of non-fossil energy accounts for 15.9% of total energy consumption. China has vigorously promoted the development of renewable energy, and the installed capacity of renewable energy has increased rapidly, ranking first in the world. By the end of 2020, the total installed capacity of non-fossil energy power generation in China had reached 980 million kW, including 280 million kW of wind power and 250 million kW of photovoltaic power, ranking first in the world for 11 and six consecutive years, respectively.

Chinese President Xi Jinping said in December 2020 that China will increase the share of non-fossil fuels in primary energy consumption to around 25%, and will bring its total installed capacity of wind and solar power to over 1.2 billion kW. He also said on Sept. 21 this year that China will step up support for other developing countries to develop green and low-carbon energy, and will not build new coal-fired power projects abroad. This fully demonstrates China's determination and courage to accelerate the adjustment of energy structure and build a clean, low-carbon, safe and efficient energy system. China will continue to control the growth of coal consumption, strengthen the development of renewable energy, accelerate the improvement of power system, and build a new power system suitable for a high proportion of renewable energy. Meanwhile, as the world's largest manufacturer of clean energy equipment, China will actively promote the development and utilization of clean energy, promote international cooperation around the world, and help developing countries accelerate the transformation of energy supply to an efficient, clean and diversified mode.

As a developing country, China is currently facing the arduous tasks of developing the economy, improving people's livelihoods, and maintaining energy security. There are still many difficulties and challenges in adjusting the energy structure, which can not be addressed overnight. We will take a systematic approach to overall development; continue to prevent risks; properly handle the relationship between current and long-term development, and the relationship between pollution and carbon reduction and energy security, industrial and supply chains security and people's livelihoods; effectively deal with the risks that may occur during the green and low-carbon transformation; and ensure safe carbon reduction. Thank you.

Phoenix TV:

What measures will China take to enhance compliance and transparency in addressing climate change? Thank you.

Ye Min:

Thank you. Mr. Sun will answer this question.

Sun Zhen:

Thank you, Mr. Ye, and thanks for the question. On this topic, let's start with the Convention. The global response to climate change should be based on the unity and cooperation of all countries. The provisions of the Convention on parties to submit national greenhouse gas inventories and strengthen transparency are not only compliance requirements for addressing climate change but also a cooperative mechanism for building mutual trust and positive incentives. The detailed implementation rules of the Paris Agreement set higher requirements in terms of content, quality and frequency of communications to ensure that policy actions and effects on climate change are more comparable and transparent. At the same time, it also clearly gives developing countries some flexibility on the issue of transparency, and requires developed countries to provide financial and capacity-building support to developing countries.

As the largest developing country, China has attracted extensive attention in regard to its transparency around climate change. So far, China has submitted three national communications and two biennial update reports, including five annual national greenhouse gas emission inventories. The inventory data released by China is reliable and the accounting method is scientific, which has been widely recognized by the international community.

The statistical accounting system of greenhouse gas emissions is the basis for inventory preparation and transparency construction. After years of efforts, we have established and improved the basic statistical system of greenhouse gas emissions, put forward a statistical index system covering five categories and 36 indicators, and built a statistical reporting system for addressing climate change. At the enterprise level, we have issued accounting methods and reporting guidelines for greenhouse gas emissions of enterprises in 24 industries, and organized the accounting and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions of enterprises. Recently, China has also set up a working group on carbon emission statistics and accounting under the leading group office of carbon peak and carbon neutralization work.

In the next step, China will continue to improve the statistical accounting system of greenhouse gas emissions, improve the support and guarantee ability to deal with climate change, ensure that China's statistical system to deal with climate change can meet the new requirements of the implementation rules of the Paris Agreement, and promote China's governance system and capacity to deal with climate change to a new level. Thank you.

Shenzhen Satellite TV:

My question is also about COP26. What are China's expectations for the conference? Thank you.

Ye Min:  

Thank you. COP26 will be the first time Conference of Parties to be held since the implementation of the Paris Agreement. China believes that this conference should first convey a strong political message on firmly upholding multilateralism and respecting multilateral rules. All parties should implement principles of common but differentiated responsibilities, as well as Nationally Determined Contributions outlined in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement, and contribute to addressing global climate change based on their unique national conditions. China looks forward to working with all parties and making progress at this conference on the following tasks:  

First, we hope to complete negotiations on the remaining issues regarding how to implement certain arrangements of the Paris Agreement. It has been nearly six years since the Paris Agreement was reached, but negotiations on various implementation guidelines have yet to be finalized. For example, the implementation arrangements of Article 6, mentioned by a friend from the media just now, still need to be negotiated. The international community has high expectations that the conference will fulfill this task. As the Paris Agreement begins to be fully implemented, the conference should encourage finalizing negotiations on the remaining core issues concerning the implementation guidelines of Article 6. This constitutes the basis and prerequisite for the full and effective implementation of the Paris Agreement by all parties and is an important symbol of maintaining the international community's trust in multilateral mechanisms.  

Second, we hope to make effective progress on issues of financial, technological and capacity-building assistance, which have long been of great concern to developing countries. At the previous conferences, developing nations were disappointed that the financing and adaptation issues that most concern them weren't taken seriously or effectively responded to. They also doubted whether the developed countries were adequately supportive in coping with climate change or merely deflecting emission reduction responsibilities to them. These issues have become one of the biggest obstacles to achieving steadfast progress in the multilateral process. As the Paris Agreement enters official implementation, these issues concern mutual political trust and the practical abilities of developing countries to enact climate action. This Conference of Parties should make arrangements in this regard and advance ambitions in mitigation, adaptation and providing support.

Third, we hope to highlight "implementation" at this conference. We actively call on all parties to earnestly implement the targets and translate them into policies and measures that can be adopted as well as concrete action to be taken. We should avoid turning the setting or raising of targets into empty rhetoric or accusations. For instance, developed countries should bridge the gap in providing $100 billion annually promised financial support as soon as possible – a major issue that concerns mutual trust between developing and developed countries. A number of developed countries, having not yet fulfilled existing promises, are still pushing for higher climate targets. However, all parties should realize that climate goals devoid of action are nothing but a castle in the air, and only through common action and full implementation of the targets and requirements of the Paris agreement, can we effectively deal with the crises and challenges brought by climate change. Thank you.  

Xing Huina:

If there are no other questions, today's briefing is hereby concluded. Thanks to our two speakers and friends from the media. Good bye!

Translated and edited by Zhang Liying, Wang Qian, Zhang Rui, Huang Shan, Qin Qi, Wang Wei, Dong Qingpei, Zhou Jing, Xiang Bin, Chen Xia, Xu Xiaoxuan, Li Huiru, David Ball, Drew Pittock, and Tom Arnstein. In case of any discrepancy between the English and Chinese texts, the Chinese version is deemed to prevail.