Laos, China to cooperate on CO2 emissions reduction project

Laos and China will cooperate on a climate change mitigation project by constructing a low carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions demonstration area in Saysettha Development Zone (SDZ), Vientiane.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Ministry of Natural Recourses and Environment of Laos, represented by Minister Sommad Pholsena, and Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China, represented by Minister Huang Runqiu, was electronically signed by the two sides on Thursday via videoconference.
During the conference, the two ministers and related sectors shared their opinions on climate change mitigation cooperation between the two countries. 
The low CO2 emissions demonstration area in SDZ, Vientiane is a climate change mitigation project which the Lao and Chinese governments are assigning SDZ to implement and develop. It is one of 10 low CO2 emissions demonstration projects of China in developing countries.
The SDZ demonstration area will implement a low CO2 emissions plan as a model for transportation by using electric vehicles, and assist other sectors, as well as communicating the project publically to strengthen Laos’ climate change mitigation efforts and support sustainable development plans.
According to a press release from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China will support the area in SDZ by creating a project plan as well as providing construction equipment and upgrading low CO2 emissions expertise through training and other activities.
This latest initiative is part of closer cooperation in building the Laos-China community with a shared future which will benefit the people of both nations.
In 2018, the two ministries signed an agreement on ecological and environmental cooperation covering law, regulations and policies, planning, monitoring, and biodiversity conservation.
The cooperation also included urban water environmental management, air pollution prevention and control, solid waste management, environmental protection technology and other topics.
The SDZ is one of the largest special and specific economic zones (SEZs) manufacturing exports in Laos, according to a report last year from the Committee for Investment Promotion and Management.
Last year, almost 600 companies, of which 89 are domestic firms, 474 are foreign companies, and 29 are Lao-overseas joint ventures, had registered operations in the special and specific economic zones.
The government earned more than US$13 million from these zones nationwide in 2019, a threefold increase compared to 2018.

By Times Reporters
(Latest Update July 20, 2020)