On 25 June 2026, the ASEAN-China Roundtable Dialogue on Climate-Resilient Cities, one of the key events of the ASEAN-China Environmental Cooperation Week 2026, was successfully held in Danzhou, Hainan Province. The event was jointly organized by the China–ASEAN Environmental Cooperation Center / Foreign Environmental Cooperation Center / Technical Center for Environmental Convention Implementation of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Center’) and the Department of Ecology and Environment of Hainan Province, with the UNICEF China Office serving as co-organizer. The event was supported by the ASEAN Secretariat and the Danzhou Municipal People’s Government of. Participants included representatives from the Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China and its affiliated institutions, local environmental authorities, the ASEAN Secretariat, environmental and climate authorities of ASEAN Member States, United Nations agencies, international organizations, financial institutions, research organizations, and the private sector.

Dr. LI Xia, Deputy Director General of the Center, Ms. WANG Qian, Officer-in-Charge of UNEP China, and Mr. Mainak Chatterjee, Programme Manager of Climate and Environment of UNICEF China attended the event and delivered keynote speeches, which was moderated by Ms. XU Qing, Programme Officer of Climate and Environment of UNICEF China. The meeting focused on two thematic sessions, including ASEAN-China Good Practices in Climate Change Adaptation and ASEAN-China Community-Based Climate change Adaptation and Inclusive Development.

Dr. LI Xia emphasized that green finance serves as a critical enabler of climate adaptation and green transition, while effective integration of real-world application scenarios, advanced technologies, and sustainable business models is essential. She noted that the Center has carried out extensive practical work in climate risk assessment, climate-resilient city development, and green finance innovation, continuously exploring replicable and scalable models for green development. The Center has also actively promoted the development of climate risk mapping, green investment and financing instruments, and knowledge-sharing networks. Looking ahead, she expressed the hope of further strengthening cooperation with all partners to advance the demonstration and application of green technologies, promote successful green finance practices, and facilitate more innovative solutions in support of climate adaptation and green, low-carbon transition across China and ASEAN, thereby injecting new momentum into regional sustainable development.

Ms. WANG Qian noted that the world is facing increasingly interconnected environmental challenges, making it imperative to develop science-based and systematic responses. UNEP continues to provide scientific evidence and policy recommendations for global environmental governance through publications such as the Global Environment Outlook. It also actively supports countries in developing climate adaptation strategies, implementing nature-based solutions, and promoting climate finance. She expressed UNEP’s willingness to further deepen cooperation with China and ASEAN countries, strengthen scientific knowledge sharing, mobilize greater resources for climate adaptation, and jointly enhance regional resilience.

Mr. Mainak Chatterjee highlighted that climate change is having profound impacts on children’s health, education, and development worldwide, and stressed that children should be placed at the center of climate adaptation and climate finance efforts. He noted that UNICEF has made climate action a global strategic priority by advancing child protection, capacity building, and adaptation initiatives, while advocating for the integration of children’s needs into national adaptation strategies and climate finance policies. He expressed UNICEF’s hope of working with all partners to strengthen children’s climate resilience, youth capacity development, and South-South cooperation, thereby contributing to a more inclusive and resilient regional climate governance framework.

During the first session, ‘ ASEAN-China Good Practices in Climate Change Adaptation ’, Mr. GUO Longgen, Member of the Leading Party Leadership Group of the Department of Ecology and Environment of Yunnan Province; Mr. Zhang Yuhua, Deputy Director of the Qujing Municipal Bureau of Ecology and Environment; Mr. Pich Sokhim, Head of Research and Development Office, Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Environment of Cambodia; Mr. HUANG Ruiping, Section Chief of General Affairs of Haikou Municipal Bureau of Ecology and Environment; Mr. Keopasert Phonxay, Deputy Director of the Department of Planning and Cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture and Environment of Lao PDR; and Mr. Chng Yee Siang, Senior Assistant Director of the International Policy Division, Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment of Singapore, shared experiences and perspectives on climate-resilient city development. They agreed that cities in China and ASEAN countries share many similarities in geographical, climatic, and socio-economic characteristics, and that exchanging good practices in climate-resilient city will play an important role in accelerating regional adaptation efforts and strengthening overall adaptive capacity.

During the second session, ‘ASEAN-China Community-Based Climate Change Adaptation and Inclusive Development’, Dr. KANG Aili, Director of China’s Global Investment and Impact Programme, Wildlife Conservation Society; Ms. Zelia Maria Anita, Head of Department for Adaptation, National Directorate for Climate Change, Ministry of Tourism and Environment of Timor-Leste; Ms. Tippawan Photiwut, Professional-Level Environmentalist of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Thailand; Ms. LIU Yuan, Secretary-General of EarthCare Foundation; Ms. SONG Yang, Senior Programme Officer of the Oxfam Hong Kong Beijing Representative Office; and Dr. WANG Li, Operation Director of UK-China (Guangdong) CCUS Centre, engaged in an in-depth roundtable discussion. They shared practical experiences covering climate adaptation policies, technologies, and on-the-ground implementation, and unanimously expressed their aspiration to strengthen multi-dimensional regional collaboration on climate adaptation, increase attention to vulnerable groups in adaptation actions, and explore effective pathways toward regional and global green transition and inclusive development.

As one of the featured events of the ASEAN-China Environmental Cooperation Week 2026, the roundtable aimed to showcase practical experiences in enhancing cities’ climate resilience, promoting adaptation in coastal communities, protecting vulnerable groups, and implementing climate adaptation actions. It also sought to strengthen regional cooperation and policy coordination on climate governance, contributing to the celebration of the 35th anniversary of ASEAN-China dialogue relations and the 5th anniversary of the ASEAN-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership through concrete cooperation outcomes.