On October 25–26, 2021, the ASEAN-China Roundtable Dialogue on Climate Investment and Finance: Climate Resilience & Green and Low-Carbon Development was held in Nanning, Guangxi, as one of the parallel sub-forums of the ASEAN-China High-Level Forum on Green and Sustainable Development and the ASEAN-China Environmental Cooperation Forum 2021. It was sponsored by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China and the People’s Government of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, hosted by the China-ASEAN Environmental Cooperation Center (CAEC) / Foreign Environmental Cooperation Center (FECO), and the Department of Ecology and Environment of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, and co-hosted by the ASEAN Secretariat.

Chen Liang, Director General of the Department of Ecology and Environment of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Li Yonghong, Deputy Director General of CAEC / FECO, and Zhou Jun, Director of the Department of International Cooperation of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, China, attended the meeting and delivered remarks.

Chen Liang introduced the progress Guangxi has made in environmental protection and climate change in recent years, and said that Guangxi will continue opening-up in the future to deepen financial exchanges and cooperation with ASEAN countries. Climate investment and finance will be given full play to channel more social funds to green and low-carbon industries and projects, he added, and mechanisms that propel green and low-carbon transition will be strengthened to promote the formation of energy mix, industrial structure, ways of production and life that mitigate and adapt to climate change.

Li Yonghong said that 2021 marks the 30th anniversary of ASEAN-China Dialogue Relations, and represents the ASEAN-China Year of Sustainable Development Cooperation. He affirmed that the meeting on climate resilience and green and low-carbon development is of great significance for strengthening regional cooperation, jointly addressing climate change, and achieving sustainable development. He called on the two sides to work together, on the basis of mutual benefit, to pursue climate resilience and green and low-carbon development, with the strong support and engagement of all stakeholders.

Zhou Jun said that China and ASEAN, connected by mountains and rivers, have intertwined development and shared future. Aiming at low-carbon and sustainable development, the two sides have carried out extensive and practical cooperation in the field of climate change and green development based on the principle of mutual respect and consultation, and effectively moved forward regional and global sustainable development process, he affirmed. As one of the important activities of the 2021 ASEAN-China Year of Sustainable Development Cooperation, this meeting aims to share successful experiences and good practices in climate governance, which is of great significance for enhancing the ability to adapt to climate change and tap the potential of low-carbon development in countries in the region.

Tu Ruihe, Head of UNEP China Office, Devanand Ramiah, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in China, Li Xia, Director of CAEC/FECO, and Yoseef Zahar, Affiliate of Stockholm Environment Institute Asia attended and delivered keynote speeches.

The meeting encompassed two thematic seminars, “ASEAN-China Practice in Response to Climate Change and Low-Carbon Sustainable Development”, and “ASEAN-China Dialogue on Resilient Urban Investment and Finance: Coordinated Action to Address Climate Change and Improve Air Quality”. During the meeting, the delegates discussed topics such as green finance in support of climate resilience and green and low-carbon development, carbon peak and carbon neutrality, clean energy investment, and atmospheric environmental governance. Representatives from China and ASEAN Countries also shared the experiences in climate investment and finance and their insights on future work directions.

This sub-forum aims to facilitate the implementation of Framework of China-ASEAN Environmental Cooperation Strategy and Action Plan (2021–2025) and other relevant cooperation initiatives to further consolidate ASEAN-China consensus on cooperation in tackling climate change, and expand ASEAN-China sustainable development partnership. More than 100 representatives from MEE and its directly affiliates, environmental department of ASEAN countries, Chinese local environmental departments, international organizations, financial institutions, and research institutions joined the meeting in online and offline modes.