CEADs Team Supports the Successful China-France Carbon Neutrality Seminar in Paris
On May 6, 2024, in Paris, France, during Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to France at the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron, the China-France Science and Technology Cooperation Achievements Exhibition and the China-France Carbon Neutrality Seminar were held in Paris.
The China-France Science and Technology Cooperation Achievements Exhibition was jointly hosted by China's Ministry of Science and Technology and France's Ministry of Higher Education and Research. Dai Gang, Director-General of the Department of International Cooperation of China's Ministry of Science and Technology, and Laber, Deputy Director of France's Ministry of Higher Education and Research, attended the opening ceremony and delivered remarks. He Kebin, Dean of the Institute for Carbon Neutrality at Tsinghua University, and Guan Dabo, Vice Dean of the institute, participated in the exhibition.
The China-France Carbon Neutrality Seminar was jointly hosted by the Department of International Cooperation of China's Ministry of Science and Technology and the Administrative Center for China's Agenda 21, and organized by the Institute for Carbon Neutrality at Tsinghua University. Eighty-five leaders and experts from government, academia, and industry in China and France gathered in Paris for in-depth discussions on future areas of cooperation between the two countries in carbon neutrality, promoting scientific and technological exchange and collaboration in this field. Participants included Dai Gang, Director-General of the Department of International Cooperation of China's Ministry of Science and Technology; Guo Xiaolin, Minister-Counselor for Science and Technology at the Chinese Embassy in France; Gao Xiang, Director of the China Science and Technology Exchange Center; Ke Bing, Deputy Director of the Administrative Center for China's Agenda 21; He Kebin, member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and Dean of the Institute for Carbon Neutrality at Tsinghua University; and Jean-Pierre Gattuso, member of the Academia Europaea and foreign member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
The opening ceremony was chaired by Zhang Xian, Division Director at the Administrative Center for China's Agenda 21. In his opening remarks, Dai Gang noted that 2024 marks the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and France. He said that the two countries have actively cooperated in carbon neutrality over the years and achieved outstanding results, with strong progress in sharing experience, deepening mutual understanding, and building trust in carbon-neutral science and technology innovation. He expressed hope that both sides will use the China-France Carbon Neutrality Center as a platform to promote scientific and technological exchanges, collaborative research, and talent development, forming a sustained and stable partnership.
Ke Bing said that science and technology are important forces driving human progress, and that China and France both have deep foundations and remarkable achievements in science and technology. He expressed hope that the China-France Carbon Neutrality Center will become a new starting point and a new hub for scientific and technological innovation cooperation between the two countries, adding new momentum to climate research and action on both sides.
The expert discussion session was then co-chaired by Guan Dabo and Jean-Pierre Birat, CEO of IF Steelman. He Kebin and Jean-Pierre Gattuso each delivered keynote presentations.
He Kebin highlighted the importance of technological innovation and commercialization in achieving the carbon neutrality goals of both countries, and recognized the positive role of the China-France Carbon Neutrality Center in zero-emission technology innovation and the implementation of sustainable actions by Chinese and French enterprises. He expressed hope that, based on existing research networks such as China-France laboratories and joint research institutions, the two countries will expand channels for enterprises related to carbon neutrality to participate and establish a China-France research partner exchange program. In terms of cooperation priorities, he suggested that the current focus on agriculture, biodiversity, and the environment could be expanded to include renewable power generation, hydrogen energy, and carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS).
In his keynote presentation, Jean-Pierre Gattuso emphasized the major role of the ocean in absorbing and removing carbon dioxide, and called for more Chinese and French scientists, governments, and enterprises to participate in carbon-neutral technology innovation actions for ocean-based carbon dioxide removal.
The report discussion and outlook session was chaired by Zhang Xian. During the expert report session, Guan Dabo presented the China-France Carbon Neutrality Technology Report in detail. The report quantified the achievements of carbon-neutral technologies over the 60 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France, showing that Chinese and French technological progress has created about 8 billion tonnes of carbon space for the global temperature-control target and has contributed a cumulative 43.3% reduction in the cost of global carbon-neutral technologies. He noted that the report is a consensus document for promoting cooperation between China and France in carbon neutrality and will become an important foundation for deeper bilateral collaboration. He also organized discussions among participating experts on the report and introduced the first China-France Carbon Neutrality Center Summer School, which will be held in the middle of this year.
Subsequently, more than ten Chinese and French experts from Tsinghua University, Zhejiang University, University College London (UCL), France's Etam Group, the Carbon Neutrality Development Research Institute of China Power Engineering Consulting Group Co., Ltd., and the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development shared insights on carbon-reduction technology innovation, policy recommendations, cooperation opportunities, and future directions for collaboration between the two countries. Participating officials, experts, and representatives discussed pathways for China-France carbon-neutral development from the perspectives of government, scientific issues, project cooperation, and enterprises. They jointly looked ahead to key areas of China-France scientific and technological cooperation on carbon neutrality, policy support for people-to-people exchanges, demonstration projects, and outcomes of common concern to the science and technology authorities of both countries.
Roundtable Discussion
In the final session of the seminar, Ke Bing, Deputy Director of the Administrative Center for China's Agenda 21, together with Division Directors Zhang Xian, Zhang Qiaoxian, and Gao Xinquan, offered outlooks and suggestions on China-France science and technology cooperation and the future development of the China-France Carbon Neutrality Center. Supported by the effective platform of the China-France Carbon Neutrality Center, the seminar not only provided solid support for President Xi Jinping's visit to France, but also symbolized the deepening of China-France cooperation in advancing carbon neutrality and addressing climate change.
In a written speech during his state visit to France, Chinese President Xi Jinping noted that over the past 60 years, China-France relations have always been at the forefront of China's relations with Western countries. The development of China-France relations has not only brought benefits to the people of both countries, but has also injected stability and positive energy into a turbulent world. Earlier, Yin Hejun, China's Minister of Science and Technology, visited France at the invitation of the French side and co-chaired the 15th China-France Joint Committee Meeting on Science and Technology Cooperation, further deepening cooperation between China and France in key areas including climate change and carbon neutrality, the environment, and biodiversity. On April 29, Chinese Ambassador to France Lu Shaye said in an interview with domestic and international media that cooperation including the China-France Carbon Neutrality Center provides important support for deepening the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.
On the afternoon of April 29, Chinese Ambassador to France Lu Shaye gave a joint interview to Xinhua News Agency, People's Daily, China Media Group CCTV, CGTN, China News Service, Science and Technology Daily, Phoenix TV, European Times, Europe TV, and other media outlets.
The China-France Carbon Neutrality Seminar held in Paris fully reflected President Xi Jinping's important remarks and deepened cooperation between China and France in addressing global crises and fulfilling the responsibilities of major countries in international climate governance. The seminar strengthened the key platform role of the China-France Carbon Neutrality Center in the process of scientific and technological innovation cooperation between the two sides. Experts and policymakers from both countries reached broad consensus on accelerating the development of the China-France Carbon Neutrality Center, put forward forward-looking policy recommendations, and analyzed the challenges and opportunities of China-France cooperation in carbon neutrality from multiple perspectives and dimensions through interdisciplinary exchange. China and France will continue to work together to achieve new progress in carbon-neutral science and technology innovation and jointly contribute to building a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable future for the world.
