Speech by Commissioner Elisa Ferreira (by video message) for the 15th EU–China High-Level Seminar on Regional Policy Cooperation

15th EU–China High-Level Seminar on Regional Policy Coop

Dear friends from cities and regions across China and the EU.

Welcome to this important event. I sadly could not join in person, but very much wanted to say a few words. So thank you for this opportunity.

China and Europe both have a long and proud history. With strong regional and local traditions. And a track record of development through cooperation and solid technical expertise.

This history has taught us many things. I think of the old proverb: “If you want to go fast, go alone, but if you want to go far, go together”.

Both in China and Europe, it is our ambition to go far. Far in innovation, far in digital and technical solutions, and far in the progress to a carbon neutral economy.

To achieve these ambitious goals, we must work with every region and city. And indeed, both China and the EU count cities, provinces and regions as key partners in development.

But we must also work at the global level. And the EU-China Policy Dialogue is the oldest of our international, regional, and urban policy dialogues.

We have met regularly since 2006. Working constructively with our partners from the Chinese National Development and Reform Commission on a large number of mutually beneficial fields in regional and urban policy.

And this, as you know, is precisely the main aim of the International Urban, and Regional, Cooperation Programme.

Bringing together 22 cities and provinces from China as well as 21 cities and regions from the European Union. Working on sustainable solutions to urban and territorial challenges. Identifying and strengthening cooperation. Finding new ways to approach common challenges.

Since this Programme started, in January 2021, regions and cities have been on the front lines. Managing crises, from the pandemic onwards. Promoting more sustainable transport. Managing and reducing waste, such as single-use plastics. Challenging our habits and finding new ways to live together in cities.

I am encouraged that even in these difficult times cities and regions have shown commitment, to keep cooperating as effective partners.

And rightly so because regions and cities remain at the forefront of changes and crises management. Today, over half of the world's population lives in cities. And by 2050, another 2.5 billion people will join them.

Globally, urban areas consume around two thirds of the world's energy, and similarly account for more than two thirds of CO2 emissions.

Cities are also vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, from heatwaves and droughts, to flooding.

But cities and regions are not passive in the fields of climate, environment and energy. They are active and fundamental players, centres of innovation, inspiration and action.

Cities are working to improve the air we breathe, to improve our waste management, and to support companies and researchers who are developing the circular solutions of tomorrow.

Local and regional administrations, in partnership with local people, must be in the driving seat. Testing new solutions that can be scaled up.

Under the International Urban and Regional Cooperation Programme, we have supported such bottom-up solutions. Promoting a multi-stakeholder approach with public authorities, the research community, the business sector, and civil society.

This 'quadruple-helix' approach (four feet) has borne fruit. For instance, the establishment of cooperation centres among European and Chinese cities, the development of partnerships between universities, and cooperation agreements in key areas, such as sustainable agriculture, organic farming systems and agri-tourism, sustainable urban mobility, sustainable port development, sustainable tourism, vocational training and education, and cultural and creative industries.

I think it is fair to say that this cooperation is also contributing to the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, bringing on board local stakeholders. A reminder indeed, that if you want to go far, we have to go together involving local and regional actors and civil society!

I will conclude with what I understand is an old Chinese proverb: “Every step makes a footprint”.

What we are pioneering here today is one step further in sustainable development, one step further in stronger cooperation between regions and cities, and one step further in mutually beneficial cooperation between the EU and China.

And these steps are leaving tangible footprints.

I am hopeful that later this year, we will take a further step strengthening regional and urban policy cooperation, and consolidating city-to-city and region-to-region cooperation. Many thanks to all of you for your commitment. The connections forged today will be the foundation on which we will build tomorrow. Thank you very much! Xie-xie!

I wish you good work!