In the opening speech of the meeting, Mr. Heng Nareth, Under Secretary of State of the Ministry of Environment, Cambodia, said that he participated in the side event titled "Establishing Zero-waste City: From Concept to Practice" at the 2022 Conference of the Parties to the three conventions held by the BCRC China in Geneva, Switzerland on June 15. It is hoped that Cambodian cities can join the International Network of Zero-waste City Initiative and work with China to promote the international process of Zero-waste City construction. Ms. Nana ZHAO, Assistant Director of BCRC China, expressed her gratitude to the Cambodian Ministry of Environment for attending this meeting, and expressed her wish to deepen the regional cooperation between Cambodia and BCRC China in the construction of zero-waste cities and chemical management through this meeting.

In the reporting session, Deputy Chief of Environmental Technology Branch, BCRC China, introduced the achievements of China's Zero-waste City construction, the promotion plan for Zero-waste City construction during the 14th Five-Year Plan period, and the compilation of implementation plan for several zero-waste pilot programs carried out by the BCRC China, the support of zero-waste pilot programs, the technical assistance work that led and participated in, and the scientific research results obtained by the team. Secondly, Mr. Dy Kiden, Director of Department of Solid Waste Management, Ministry of Environment, Cambodia, made a report titled “Overview on Solid Waste Management in Cambodia”, introduced the challenges faced by Cambodia's solid waste management, and asked about the challenges China faces in implementing the zero-waste city program and the situation of public participation, to provide reference ideas for Cambodia to promote the construction of zero-waste city. Afterwards, the two parties had a full discussion on the ideas and possibilities of project cooperation under the International Network of Zero-waste City Initiative.

 

 

 

Then, Ms. Yuan CHEN, Chief of Regional Chemical Branch, BCRC China, introduced the GEF projects implemented by the centre and exchanged views on potential cooperation with Cambodia in chemicals management under the GEF.

 

Finally, Prof. Jinhui LI, Executive Director of BCRC China/Professor of School of Environment, Tsinghua University, made a concluding speech: “Many thanks to Mr. Heng Nareth, Under Secretary of State of the Ministry of Environment, Cambodia, for attending this bilateral meeting to exchange views on the construction of zero-waste cities and the GEF project application. BCRC China is willing to cooperate with Cambodia to carry out regional projects, and cooperate with United Nations agencies such as the United Nations Environment Programme to jointly design and apply for projects to help Cambodia improve its solid waste and chemical management capabilities. The construction of a zero-waste city is not only a very important mean for solid waste management, but also for promoting urban green development. The fourth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly, in its resolution 4/7 on the "environmentally sound management of waste", praised the zero-waste practice implemented by members, and the concept of zero-waste city construction has achieved international consensus. It is a good opportunity for Cambodia and China to jointly promote the construction of zero-waste cities. I sincerely welcome Cambodian cities to join the International Network of Zero-waste City Initiative. The two sides could sign a memorandum of cooperation to promote cooperation in the field of zero-waste city construction and under the Stockholm Convention, and carry out exchanges and cooperation on the future plastic convention. At the same time, the BCRC China is also willing to assist in deepening the cooperation between the Cambodian Ministry of Environment and the Chinese Ministry of Ecology and Environment. It is hoped that BCRC China and Cambodian Ministry of Environment will have more experience exchanges in the field of zero-waste city in the future. "

This bilateral meeting publicized the progress and effectiveness of China's zero-waste city construction, promoted the exchange of experience between China and Cambodia in the field of zero-waste city construction, and laid a foundation for the two sides to carry out regional cooperation.

In June 2020, at the Zero-waste City high level Forum, back-to-back with the 15th International Conference on Solid Waste Management and Technology, BCRC China drafted the ‘Declaration on Promoting the Construction of Zero-waste Cities’. Subsequently, with the support of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China, the BCRC China launched the "International Network of Zero-waste City Initiative" to strengthen cooperation between cities, exchange experiences and promote cooperation among stakeholders. The International Network of Zero-waste City Initiative includes city members who are engaged in the construction of Zero-waste Cities. It consists of a Subsidiary Committee of Experts and a Subsidiary Committee of Industry Representatives, and the Secretariat is responsible for the daily operation of the network. Up to now, the network has been supported by China's "11+5" pilot cities, Uruguay's Salto, Cerro Largo, Rivera, Mongolia's Kufsgur, Orkhon, Zafhan, Basel Convention Regional Center for Training and Transfer of Technology in Iran, and Basel Convention Regional Center for Training and Transfer of Technology in Latin America and Caribbean.