Minister Huang (pronounce Hwahng), esteemed colleagues, distinguished participants,

Good afternoon- it is a pleasure to be here today to open this “EU-China Exchange on Collaboratively Advancing Green Growth”.

I extend my sincere thanks to the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development for organising this event and for the kind invitation.

Today, we find ourselves in an increasingly complex world, with many- often conflicting- priorities preoccupying our agendas and our minds.

Yet, the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution becomes ever more intense, affecting not only our natural environment but also our prosperity and security.

I firmly believe that nature, prosperity, and security are deeply intertwined. Our security is linked to our resilience and to our economic stability, which is based on sustainable growth.

For us in Europe, growth cannot be anything else than sustainable. Not only because it is the right thing to do, but because it makes economic sense.

Biodiversity loss, soil degradation, and water scarcity are not just environmental problems; they are also economic and security risks.

Our industries rely on healthy ecosystems, stable climate, and secure access to clean water and raw materials. A resilient economy must build on a resilient natural base.

Through the European Green Deal the European Union has shown that it is possible for the economy to grow while reducing emissions, increasing materials use efficiency and protecting the environment.

This approach remains our blueprint for sustainability, driving the transformation of our society and economy towards long-term growth and prosperity.

But more needs to be done and this is the focus of my mandate as Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy.

This Commission has recently launched the Competitiveness Compass and Clean Industrial Deal, which will serve as a common framework and strategic vision to guide the EU into becoming even more sustainable and even more competitive.

As part of this vision, we are developing a Circular Economy Act to further develop our single market for waste and create demand for secondary raw materials. The Act is expected to be adopted in 2026 after a full impact assessment and a public consultation that will be open also to our international partners, including China.

I am also the first Commissioner for water resilience. It is therefore also my mission to place water firmly at the heart of our political agenda.

Extreme weather events are becoming the new normal. All the while demand for water is rising. Whether it is too little, too much, or too polluted, water insecurity now ranks among the top risks to our societies.

These risks are not only affecting our environment but also our economy. Water is essential for agriculture, for drinking water, and for countless industrial processes. Simply put, no sector can function without it. Yet water is too often taken for granted.

For these reasons, I have launched [last week] the EU first Water Resilience Strategy. The strategy aims to restore and protect the water cycle, build a water smart economy that strengthens European resilience and competitiveness. And importantly it ensures clean and affordable water for all.

Managing water scarcity, strengthening a circular economy, using better our natural resources: these are not only European challenges but global ones.

It is my ambition to work together with likeminded partners across the globe to push this agenda forward and see concrete action on the ground that promote prosperity and sustainability.

China is one such partner and our broad cooperation on environment is testament to this.

I am very much looking forward to chairing tomorrow the 10^th EU-China Environment Policy Dialogue with you, Minister Huang to discuss in detail some of the key environmental challenges we are facing- biodiversity loss, deforestation, pollution- and to review our cooperation to date.

I also look forward to the 6^th High Level Environment and Climate Dialogue in mid-July, where our Executive Vice-President and Chinas Vice-Premier will exchange on these important areas of common engagement.

By showing leadership and pushing for common goals, as done to reach the agreement on the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework or through the joint work on water and sustainable development at the UN Water Conference in 2023, the EU and China can set a positive example for others and promote stronger and effective global action.

Because what the EU and China do matters. Not only for our own countries but for the rest of the world as well.

Our cooperation is essential if we are to support the transition to a green, low-emission, circular economy and reach the ambition of the 2030 agenda for sustainable development.

I very much hope we can continue on this path and one prime occasion is very near: the final round of negotiations for an international legally binding instrument to end plastic pollution in August 2025.

We will discuss this topic in more detail tomorrow but I take this opportunity today to stress how important it is for our planet and our future generations that an agreement is reached. The EU will play its part and I trust that China will too.

I am very happy to address this audience today as the role of think tanks, experts and civil society is key to inform our policy making, to highlight the challenges and reflect upon the solutions.

Enhancing bilateral exchanges between European and Chinese think tanks is something I am keen to support and I was very happy to learn that efforts are being put in place via a dedicated programme helping establishing contact between European and Chinese think tanks.

Yet, I believe there is space for increasing such in-depth exchanges. The EU supports the efforts of the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development and encourages more European organisation to participate in its initiatives.

I am also proud of the increasing engagement of European high-level experts in the Council and the involvement of organisations from a number of Member States- including Sweden- in the development and implementation of its activities.

I hope this engagement can continue and expand. The next Annual General Meeting in October in Beijing could present a valuable opportunity for EU think tanks to engage more deeply with your organisation and I hope todays event can facilitate this exchange.

I would like to conclude by wishing you a successful afternoon and thanking you for your attention.

Lets continue acting decisively for a sustainable future that benefits all.