Prime Minister Announces Series of Initiatives with China on Environment

"Canada is committed to cooperating with developing countries, like China, to meet environmental challenges, including global issues such as climate change", said the Prime Minister. "My visit to Beijing and Gansu is part of our ongoing efforts to renew our partnerships and identify areas where Canada and China can work together for the betterment of our citizens".

Key among these is the Canada-China Framework for Cooperation into the 21st Century, which paves the way for enhanced bilateral activity in a broad array of environmental issues and calls for the involvement of various organizations from both countries.

The Framework, in particular, opens the door for bilateral cooperation on climate change, and as such is one of the first agreements of this kind to be signed between two countries. It targets the enhancement of carbon sinks and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, and both sides agree to seek early opportunities for cooperation under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM).

A Memorandum of Understanding on Forestry, between Natural Resources Canada and the State Forestry Administration of China, will allow for the development of joint programs to achieve national objectives in the use and sustainable management of forest resources. Areas covered in the MOU include collaboration on forest health, scientific research and the fostering of forest sector related trade.

The Prime Minister also announced two specific projects:

-The first on Nutrient Management and Strategies for Sustainable Agriculture, which is based on the development of a new agriculture information network and is designed to improve the appropriate and balanced use of fertilizer.

- And a second on Flood Control, Ecological Protection and Sustainable Development, which will focus on watersheds and involves the participation of academic institutions and communities.

Federal funding for these two projects, channelled through the Canadian International Development Agency, was provided for in the February 1998 budget and is, therefore, built into the existing fiscal framework.

Background information on the new agreements and projects is attached.

PMO Press Office: (613) 957-5555

Canada-China Framework for Cooperation on Environment into the 21st Century

This Framework Arrangement will enhance further bilateral cooperation on the environment. It will allow Canada to work more closely with China not only to address national environmental challenges, but also to solve regional and global environmental issues, including climate change. The Framework builds on successful partnerships between government and the private sector in both countries. It provides opportunities for Canadian companies whose technologies and know-how can help China realize energy efficiencies, cleaner production and reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

Areas of particular focus include water resource management, sustainable agriculture and biodiversity. Cooperative activities may take the form of the transfer of technology, training and technical assistance. Climate change initiatives may include activities aimed at reduction of greenhouse gas emissions as well as enhancement of carbon sinks. Cooperation in areas such as ecological protection, climate monitoring and adaptation will help mitigate the impact of natural disasters such as the floods which hit China earlier this year.

Memorandum of Understanding on Forestry

The MOU will allow Canada and China to develop joint programs and activities to achieve national objectives in the use and sustainable management of forest resources and to develop their respective forest sectors. Areas covered by the MOU include collaboration in forest health and forest management research and techniques, scientific research, technical co-operation, training, and the fostering of forest sector-related trade.

Memorandum of Understanding for Project on Nutrient Management and Strategies for Sustainable Agriculture

The Canadian organizations involved in this Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) are Canada's Potash and Phosphate Institute and Canpotex Ltd., both from Saskatoon and the Canadian International Development Agency. They will be working with the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture and the Academy of Agricultural Sciences to establish an information network in every Chinese province. The network will provide computer access to the latest information on soil conditions and the appropriate mix of fertilizers for each province, allowing farmers, industry and government planners to develop and implement the needed plant nutrient strategies.

The availability of the appropriate fertilizers, in addition to the network information, will enable the development of farming practices that are environmentally-sustainable and respond to China's growing food and fibre need.

Canada-China Flood Control, Ecological Protection and Sustainable Development

This is a joint-linkage project among the University of Regina, Beijing University and the Wuhan University of Hydraulic and Electrical Engineering and is supported by a five-year $750,000 contribution by the Canadian International Development Agency.

The goal of the project is to strengthen the capacity of Chinese institutions in the development and implementation of research and education programs for ecological protection and flood prevention, so that they can work more effectively with governments, industries and communities to better understand and participate in watershed ecosystem management.

The project's main activities include community action and policy research in watershed ecosystem management, as well as training in monitoring, modelling and assessing ecosystem degradation and flooding disaster, and other institution-strengthening efforts.