Remarks by Consul General Zhao Jian at the 2024 U.S.-China Low-Carbon and Sustainable Cities Dialogue

(Chicago, July 22, 2024) 

Your Excellency Ambassador Yang Wanming,

Honorable Secretary Henry Paulson,

Ladies and gentlemen, friends,

Good morning! It is my great pleasure to attend the the 2024 U.S.-China Low-Carbon and Sustainable Cities Dialogue co-hosted by Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and Paulson Institute. On behalf of the Chinese Consulate General in Chicago, I would like to extend my warm congratulations on the convening of the dialogue. I would also like to express appreciation to Paulson Institute and many other institutions for their long-term efforts to promote China-U.S. cooperation in climate change response and sustainable development.

This year marks the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the United States. Over the past 45 years, China-U.S. cooperation and exchanges have made great progress in a wide range of fields, bringing huge benefits to the people of the two countries and the people of the world. At present, various global challenges are emerging one after another, and the world has a long way to go to achieve the sustainable development goals. China and the U.S. should strengthen communication, coordination and cooperation, provide more public goods and play important leading roles in promoting world sustainable development. This is not only the responsibility that China and the United States should bear as major countries, but also the necessary requirement for the two countries to promote their sustainable and high-quality development. In fact, accelerating the green transformation of development and jointly addressing climate change are also important contents of the “San Francisco Vision” reached by our two heads of state in November last year.

In green development and climate response, China is a country that walks the walk. China has built the world’s largest environmentally clean power supply system. Sectors like new-energy vehicles and photovoltaic products are developing at a fast pace. The just-concluded Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China once again declared to the world that promoting green and low-carbon development is our firm goal. China will continue to actively practice the concept that “lush mountains and lucid waters are as valuable as silver and gold”, advance ecological conservation, pursue all-round green transition in economic and social development and actively and prudently move toward carbon peak and carbon neutrality, so as to accelerate the building of a Beautiful China and promote harmony between humanity and nature.

China is striving to accelerate the green transformation of its own development , and actively contribute China’s wisdom to the global response to climate change. There are some people accusing China of “overcapacity” in green products manufacturing, adhering to the outdated mindset of protectionism, which ultimately will only create obstacles for global green transformation. Facts have repeatedly proved that no country can achieve green development all by its own. Mutual learning and win-win cooperation are the right way and the general trend.

President Xi Jinping pointed out that the vitality of China-U.S. relations comes from exchanges and cooperation at sub-national levels. Today’s dialogue is attended by leaders of sub-national governments, the business community and other institutions from both countries. What brings everyone together is the shared responsibility and desire to serve society, bring benefit to the people, promote sustainable development and build livable communities and beautiful cities. You all understand the practical needs of sustainable economic and social development for our cities and have accumulated rich experience in advancing green development. I hope that everyone will take this forum as an opportunity to promote dialogue on policy-making, share experiences and information with each other and enhance complementary advantages to fully stimulate the potential of China-U.S. green cooperation at the sub-national level. We fully believe that with the joint efforts, we can do more to promote green development in both countries and benefit the people of both nations. This will also help build more confidence and inject new impetus for global cooperation in addressing climate change and promoting sustainable development.

I wish today’s dialogue a great success! Thank you.