Ambassador Huang Xilian of the People’s Republic of China shook the hand of Climate Change Commission Secretary Robert E.A. Borje during the latter’s courtesy call.

 

MANILA, 5 April 2022 — The Philippines and China affirmed the importance of continuing partnership in climate change action and emphasised the need for greater cooperation through practical, pragmatic projects.
 
At China Ambassador Huang Xilian’s courtesy call on Secretary Robert E.A. Borje of the Climate Change Commission, both sides emphasised that urgent climate change action is required - in adaptation,  mitigation and finance - in order to address the many climate challenges faced by the developing world.
 
“Now, more than ever, partnerships that work are crucial for climate change action to make a real difference. The Philippines and China are well-placed to harness existing cooperation as a launchpad for intensified joint action,” said Secretary Borje.
 
Saying that the perspective of the developing world and archipelagic/island nations must inform and shape global discussion on climate change, Secretary Borje also stressed that these nations, including the Philippines, “continue to bear the brunt of climate change impact.”
 
“It cannot be business as usual for our country, our region and our world. We must work harder together. Vital to this is access to technology as well financing for adaptation and mitigation,” said Secretary Borje.
 
For his part, Ambassador Huang recognised the Philippines’ important role in giving a resonant voice to the developing world on the issue of climate change.
 
Saying that the Philippines faces many climate challenges and has its own contributions to global discussions and action, Ambassador Huang underlined that China will work closely with the Philippines on “projects and programs that can impact positively and quickly on communities.”
 
Both Secretary Borje and Ambassador Huang identified cooperation in renewable energy, including solar energy as convergence that offers practical opportunities for proactive partnership.

 
Both officials also recognised the need to make climate finance and technology more accessible and should continue to be advanced in all relevant fora until results are visible.
 
Ambassador Huang expressed readiness to further strengthen climate change cooperation between the Philippines and China through discussions with Commissioner Xie Zhenhua for China’s Climate Change Affairs.
 
Secretary Borje and Ambassador Huang closed the meeting by agreeing to work closely together to “open wider the door of climate change cooperation, action and finance” for the Philippines and China in bilateral, regional and international fora.