Ambassador
  Message
  Biography
  Events
  Remarks
  Video & Audio
  Former Ambassadors
Topics
  Reading China
  2022 Beijing Winter Olympics & Paralympics
  Exhibition: the 100th Anniversary of the Founding of the Communist Party of China
  94th Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Liberation Army
  Xinjiang is a wonderful land
Embassy Information
  Offices
  Embassy Events
  Tour the Embassy
  Office Hours and Address
Consulate-General in the UK
  Manchester
  Edinburgh
  Belfast

@ChineseEmbinUK

Chinese Embassy in UK WeChat

Chinese Embassy in UK
HOME > Ambassador's Events & Remarks
Ambassador Zheng Delivers a Speech at Forest Governance, Markets and Climate Programme Stakeholder Forum 2022
2022-04-28 23:02

On April 27, Ambassador Zheng Zeguang delivered a keynote speech via video link entitled Preserve Forest Resources and Protect Our Home Planet at the Forest Governance, Markets and Climate Programme (FGMC) Annual Stakeholder Forum. Lord Goldsmith, Minister for Pacific and the Environment at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), and officials or  representatives from the governments of Indonesia and Ghana attended the Forum and delivered speeches.

The full text of Ambassador Zheng’s remarks is as follows.

Preserve Forest Resources and Protect Our Home Planet

27 April 2022

Lord Goldsmith,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Dear Friends:

It is a real delight to speak to you at the FGMC Stakeholder Forum. On behalf of the Chinese Embassy in the UK, I would like to extend our congratulations on the convening of the Forum.

A few days ago, President Xi Jinping replied to a letter from the pupils of Francis Holland School on climate change. The President wrote back about China’s visions and positive contribution to global climate action, and encouraged the young children to grow up to become active contributors to a beautiful home for humanity. This letter represents the great importance that China attaches to protecting the environment and responding to climate change and demonstrates China’s firm commitment to its responsibilities as a major global player.

At the moment, forest loss has become a major concern for the international community. This issue bears on the future of human society and its sustainable development. China has incorporated the vision of building an ecological civilisation in its Constitution and in the overall plan of building socialism with Chinese characteristics. As part of this, we attach great importance to enhancing the protection and sustainable management of forest resources. Under the guidance of Xi Jinping’s thought on ecological civilisation, the Chinese Government has made vigorous efforts to enlarge forest areas, improve the quality of forests, build forest-friendly cities and establish a network of nature reserves with national parks as the main body. These efforts have enabled us to make remarkable achievements in reversing forest loss. Despite the continued loss of forest resources around the world, China’s forest coverage has almost doubled in the past four decades, from 12% at the beginning of 1980s to 23.04% today. Forest stock has increased by 8.5 billion cubic metres. China has contributed a quarter of the world’s newly-added green area. China has also pledged to increase another 6 billion cubic metres in forest stock by 2030 from the level of 2005, and has included this target in its NDCs. This will greatly support the realisation of China’s goals of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality.

Reversing global forest loss requires closer international cooperation. Under the principles of mutual benefit and sustainable development, China has actively promoted international cooperation on forest resources and opposed illegal logging and unfair trade. China and the UK enjoy a sound basis for cooperation on combating illegal logging and protecting tropical forests. Both countries joined the Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration on Forests and Land Use at COP26 in Glasgow last year, supporting efforts to halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation by 2030. Our two countries also carried out productive collaboration through the International Forest Investment and Trade programme under the framework of Forest Governance, Markets and Climate Programme. Both sides have made positive contribution to the protection and sustainable management of tropical forests and the lawful trade in timber. China stands ready to continue working with all parties, including the UK to step up communication and dialogue, contribute to the protection and sustainable management of forests and biodiversity preservation around the world, especially in countries with the larges areas of tropical forests, and promote global green and sustainable development. 

First, we will step up experience sharing and technology support in the protection and management of forests, in order to help countries rich in tropical forest resources improve forest protection and governance capabilities. At the same time, we value the balance between protection and development, and fully respect these countries’ right to development.

Second, we will support countries rich in tropical forest resources in developing high value-added timber industries, improving the economic efficiency of forest resources on the basis of enhancing sustainable management, and avoiding deforestation caused by over-development.

Third, we will encourage sustainable and green consumption, use timber in a scientific and reasonable way, and improve its comprehensive use. We will also urge the relevant companies to strengthen capacity-building in geographic identification and due diligence, and improve their capability of carrying out sustainable forest trade and investment.

Dear Friends:

Forests are the home to many living creatures and indispensable for their survival. They form a huge reservoir for biodiversity. As biodiversity loss is exacerbated, forest protection is all the more important today. Last October, the first phase of COP15 to the Convention on Biological Diversity was successfully held in Kunming, China. The Kunming Declaration was adopted and greatly boosted global political determination on biodiversity preservation. As the host and chair of COP15, China is actively supporting the CBD secretariat in preparing for the second phase. We will continue to play a role of facilitation and coordination and form synergy with all contracting parties, international organisations and stakeholders, including the UK. We urge all the relevant parties to find common ground despite differences, work in the same direction, and reach an ambitious and pragmatic Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework. This will be a key step towards protecting forest resources and reversing biodiversity loss. Together we will build a community of life for man and nature and protect Planet Earth, our beautiful home.

In conclusion, I wish this Forum great success. Thank you.

※    ※    ※

The FGMC programme was launched in 2010 by the UK government and is managed by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, aiming at establishing the standards, mechanisms and guidelines to support tropical forest countries in establishing responsible supply chains, protecting forests, and ensuring the well-being of local people. The FGMC has undertaken or participated in related collaborative projects in China, Indonesia, Ghana, Liberia, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.

Suggest to a Friend
  Print
Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland All Rights Reserved
http://gb.china-embassy.gov.cn/