China, EU hold environment, climate dialog

China and the European Union (EU) held their sixth high-level environment and climate dialog in Beijing on Monday.

Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang and Executive Vice President of the European Commission Teresa Ribera attended the dialog.

Speaking at the event, Ding, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said no matter how the international situation changes, China will unswervingly promote green and low-carbon development and take forceful steps to participate in global environmental and climate governance.

China stands ready to work with the EU to maintain high-level dialog and exchanges and build more consensus, so as to deepen the green partnership between the two sides, Ding said.

He said both sides need to continue expanding and deepening cooperation in key areas such as energy and the circular economy in the spirit of mutual benefit.

Ding also called for joint efforts from China and the EU to support green and low-carbon development in other developing countries.

China and the EU should, he said, continue to coordinate with each other and play a leadership role in pushing for the establishment of a fair and equitable global environmental and climate governance system for win-win results.

Ribera said the EU is willing to take the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations with China as an opportunity to build on the achievements of past collaboration and explore new opportunities for cooperation.

The EU is also willing to work with China to uphold multilateralism and promote effective implementation of the Paris Agreement on climate change, so as to send a positive signal to the rest of the world about jointly addressing environmental and climate challenges.

On the occasion, relevant departments of both sides engaged in exchanges on issues such as jointly coping with climate change and protecting the ecological environment. They summarized the outcomes of cooperation since the fifth high-level dialog in June 2024 and discussed the next steps for deepening collaboration.

China, EU hold environment, climate dialog

China, EU hold environment, climate dialog

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said on Wednesday that Seoul firmly adheres to the one-China principle, in comments made ahead of his upcoming state visit to China.

The remarks were made in an interview with China Media Group (CMG). The visit is scheduled for Jan 4–7.

"The consensus reached between governments of the Republic of Korea and China when diplomatic relations were established continues to be the fundamental principle governing our relations, and its effectiveness remains steadfast. I want to clearly state that the ROK has always adhered to the one-China principle. Maintaining peace and stability in regional matters, including in Northeast Asia and concerning the Taiwan issue, holds significant importance to us," said Lee.

"The foundational relationship between the ROK and China was established on a very principled and fundamental basis from the beginning. It is clear that the ROK government has always adhered to this position and has never wavered from it. I believe that the sound development of ROK-China relations depends on both sides fully respecting each other's core interests and being mutually tolerant of each other's positions. In this context, we will, as always, uphold the one-China principle as the Taiwan issue is China's most fundamental concern," he said.

ROK president reiterates firm adherence to one-China principle