The 11th High-level Forum on South-South Cooperation on Climate Change was successfully held in the "China Corner" of COP28
On December 8, 2023, the Chinese delegation successfully hosted the 11th High-level Forum on South-South Cooperation on Climate Change at the China Corner of the 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28). The President of COP28, the Executive Secretary of the Secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Director of the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation, and ministers or ministerial-level representatives from Botswana, Chad, Kiribati, Laos, Malawi, Nigeria, Cambodia, Ghana and other countries attended the forum.
China pointed out that climate change is a common challenge facing mankind and requires all countries to strengthen cooperation and jointly address it. As a responsible major developing country, China has helped other developing countries improve their capacity to cope with climate change through South-South practical cooperation, and jointly promote energy transition, improve climate resilience, and achieve green and low-carbon development. So far, China has signed 48 documents on South-South cooperation on climate change with 40 developing countries, cooperated in the construction of four low-carbon demonstration zones, carried out 75 climate change mitigation and adaptation projects, held 57 training courses on South-South cooperation on climate change, and trained more than 2,400 officials and technicians in the field of climate change for more than 120 developing countries.
China said that COP28 is the first year of global stocktaking in the multilateral process of climate change. China is ready to work with developing countries to raise a common voice and safeguard their common interests. China will continue to strengthen South-South cooperation and provide support to developing countries in improving their early warning capabilities and developing new energy sources. The first is to implement the cooperation agreement signed between China and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) on supporting the National Early Warning Initiative, and improve the capacity of developing countries to respond to extreme climate disasters and early warning through material assistance and training on climate disaster risk warning. The second is to implement the China-Africa Declaration on Cooperation on Climate Change, implement the "African Optical Belt" project, build a China-Africa photovoltaic resource utilization cooperation demonstration belt, and tap the potential of Africa's photovoltaic resources through assistance to photovoltaic materials, carry out exchanges and dialogues, joint research, capacity building, etc., and promote Africa's energy transition to achieve sustainable development. In 2024, China will hold 10 capacity-building training courses on South-South cooperation on climate change, including new energy, global governance of climate change, climate investment and financing, carbon market, and early warning, to support professionals in developing countries in the field of climate change to improve their technical capacity and management skills.
The Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) said that South-South cooperation is very important in addressing climate change and is an important way to help developing countries achieve their NDCs.
Dima Khatib, Director of the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation, said that South-South cooperation on climate change is particularly important for developing countries to achieve green and low-carbon transformation, and the Belt and Road Initiative proposed by China provides a good platform and opportunity for developing countries to strengthen cooperation on climate change, setting an example and playing an exemplary role.
The foreign ministers spoke highly of China's efforts in South-South cooperation on climate change, appreciated China's assistance, and looked forward to continuing to strengthen cooperation with China in areas such as new energy, mitigation and adaptation, and climate investment and financing.
At the forum, China and Chad signed the first "African Light Belt" project document on South-South cooperation on climate change, and signed the delivery certificates of China-Laos (Laos), China-Kyrgyzstan (Ribas) and China-Botz (Tswana) South-South Cooperation Projects on Climate Change.
In addition, after the ministerial session, two thematic seminars were held: the implementation path and prospect of the "African Light Belt" project, and the action and prospect of implementing the National Early Warning Initiative.
