In the afternoon of September 17, 2026, the "ASEAN–China Collaborative Dialogue on Green Circular Industries and the International Environmental Conventions Implementation" one of the sub-forums of the 2026 China–ASEAN Environmental Cooperation Forum, was successfully held in Nanning, Guangxi. This sub-forum was jointly organized by the Technology Center for Environmental Convention Implementation/ Foreign Environmental Cooperation Center (hereinafter referred to as the Center) and the Department of Ecology and Environment of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, with the support of the Secretariat of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Representatives from the Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China, environmental authorities of ASEAN member states, relevant local governments, as well as researchers, universities, and industry enterprises, attended the event.
Chen Xiaoou, Director of the International Cooperation Department of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China, attended the meeting and delivered the welcome remarks; Liu Qin, Deputy Director-General of the Chongqing Municipal Ecology and Environment Bureau, gave a special invited presentation; Mr. Si Thu Aung, Assistant Director of the Environmental Protection Department at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of Myanmar; Peng Zheng, Director of the Convention Implementation Division Ⅲ of the Center; and Shao Dingding, Deputy Director of the Convention Implementation Division IV of the Center, delivered thematic reports. Representatives from local environmental authorities in regions such as Guangxi and Shenzhen, as well as enterprises operating in industries including refrigeration, healthcare, and hazardous waste treatment, along with academics from institutions such as Wuhan University, shared insights into China's practices in implementing international environmental conventions.
Chen Xiaoou pointed out that China has always been guided by President Xi Jinping's Thought on Ecological Civilization, upholds the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind, actively participates in global environmental governance, strictly complies with a series of international environmental conventions—including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Stockholm Convention, and the Minamata Convention on Mercury—and consistently integrates compliance requirements with the green transformation of industries, promoting both high-quality development and robust environmental protection in a coordinated manner. China is willing to work together with all ASEAN member states to strengthen policy dialogue and technical exchanges on the implementation of international environmental conventions, jointly address challenges such as climate change, chemicals and emerging pollutants, and heavy metal pollution, and enhance the effectiveness of environmental governance across the region.
Liu Qin explained that, as a vital ecological barrier in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, Chongqing leverages its unique mountainous terrain and industrial characteristics to simultaneously advance carbon reduction, pollution control, green space expansion, and economic growth. In addressing climate change mitigation, the city focuses on four key sectors—industry, energy, transportation, and construction—to drive the transformation of its industrial structure toward innovation and sustainability, deepen market-oriented reforms in environmental governance, and actively foster green, low-carbon lifestyles. In terms of climate change adaptation, Chongqing prioritizes ecological protection and restoration as its core strategy, steadily enhances its urban climate resilience, strengthens its climate security framework, and actively develops an economy leveraging climate-related resources. Chongqing is willing to work closely with ASEAN member states as well as sister provinces and municipalities to strengthen regional collaboration and joint governance, and to jointly promote green, low-carbon, and high-quality development.
Si Thu Aung outlined Myanmar's progress and experiences in implementing international environmental conventions and advancing its green transition. As a party to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement, Myanmar has continuously updated its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) targets, actively promoted the transition to clean energy, and fostered cross-sectoral green and sustainable development. Meanwhile, Myanmar is formulating and implementing its National Waste Management Framework and the National Plastic Management Action Plan (2026–2035) to advance the circular economy and address plastic pollution, while systematically phasing out ozone-depleting substances in accordance with the Montreal Protocol. Si Thu Aung emphasized that Myanmar is committed to strengthening regional cooperation and technical exchanges to jointly drive a green and low-carbon transition.
Peng Zheng reviewed the 25-year journey since the signing of the Stockholm Convention, noting that as one of the first signatory countries, China has phased out the vast majority of the 37 persistent organic pollutants (POPs) covered by the Convention, significantly reducing air emissions of dioxins and related compounds. China has established and strengthened its policy, regulatory, and standard system for compliance, advancing full life-cycle management of POPs. Through measures such as the research and application of green alternatives and industry-specific emission reduction upgrades, China has effectively driven the green and low-carbon transformation of sectors including electroplating, firefighting, recycled metals, building insulation, and pesticides. He also expressed China's willingness to work hand in hand with ASEAN countries to eliminate the hazards posed by POPs and jointly build a green future free from POPs.
Shao Dingding explained that since signing the Minamata Convention on Mercury, China has established and strengthened a multi-sectoral collaborative implementation mechanism. Through the refinement of regulatory frameworks and standards, the phase-out of outdated production capacities, and the promotion of technological upgrades, China has achieved breakthrough progress in the green transformation of key industries. The ultra-low emission retrofitting initiative in the coal-fired power sector has been continuously deepened, leading to a significant reduction in atmospheric mercury emission concentrations; the PVC industry has fully transitioned to low-mercury catalysts and actively developed mercury-free catalysts, resulting in a cumulative reduction of over 1,000 tons of mercury; the healthcare sector has promoted the replacement of mercury-containing medical devices with mercury-free alternatives and fostered innovation in mercury-free products, thereby reducing mercury pollution at the source. In the future, China is willing to engage in pragmatic cooperation with ASEAN countries—such as conducting policy dialogues on synergistic mercury–carbon emission reduction, sharing experiences in replacing mercury-containing medical devices, and promoting green technologies in the non-ferrous metals and cement industries—to jointly advance the green and low-carbon transformation of mercury-related sectors.
The forum featured two major thematic sessions: "ASEAN–China Progress and Lessons Learned in the Implementation of the International Environmental Conventions" and "China's Practice in Implementing International Environmental Conventions" Experts from research institutions, universities, the manufacturing sector, hazardous waste disposal companies, and the healthcare industry shared practical case studies on how implementation of international environmental conventions can drive the green and circular development of industries across various scenarios—such as local management of emerging pollutants, green electroplating processes, low-carbon refrigerants in the refrigeration industry, clean production in the fluorine chemical sector, recycling of waste lead-acid batteries, and mercury-free alternatives in the medical field. The participants engaged in in-depth exchanges and discussions regarding the key challenges, difficulties, and obstacles faced by both China and ASEAN countries in implementing international environmental conventions and advancing green industrial development.
The participating representatives agreed that the implementation of international environmental conventions serves as a key lever for deepening China–ASEAN green cooperation, while the green circular industry acts as a crucial vehicle for achieving the objectives of these conventions and balancing ecological conservation with economic development. Currently, the latest edition of the "China–ASEAN Environmental Cooperation Strategic and Action Framework (2026–2030)" has been issued and implemented, providing a clear blueprint for bilateral environmental cooperation over the next five years. By continuously sharing experience in implementing these conventions, green technologies, and industrial case studies between China and the ASEAN member states, and by promoting the synergistic enhancement of both the implementation of international environmental conventions and the green transformation of industries, these efforts can make a positive contribution to advancing global environmental governance and green sustainable development.
