RELEASE: WRI Hosts Chinese Delegation Tour on Low-Carbon Development

DG Su Wei and WRI Board Vice Chair Hattie Babbitt sign MOU (Credit: Dave Cooper/WRI)

WRI-NDRC Sign MOU for Cooperation on Sustainable Cities

The World Resources Institute is hosting a high-level Chinese official delegation to the United States to exchange ideas and information around low-carbon development.

The week-long study tour includes a delegation of 11 Chinese officials, headed by Director General Su Wei of the Department of Climate Change from China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC). The tour covers five U.S. cities, including Washington D.C., New York, Boston, San Francisco and Los Angeles.

Other government officials and representatives from the Chinese cities of Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu and Qingdao, who are involved in the policymaking and implementation of low-carbon urban development, also joined the tour.

“WRI is honored to be hosting this high-level visit with Chinese officials, which provides a great opportunity for a meaningful exchange on core issues of sustainable urban development,” said Manish Bapna, WRI’s Interim President. “Sustainable cities are one of the preeminent challenges for the future, and we hope that this tour will lead to further cooperation ahead.”

During the visit to Washington, WRI and NDRC signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to help increase collaboration on sustainable development activities in China. The MOU was signed by WRI Board Vice Chair, Harriet “Hattie” Babbitt, and Director General Su Wei.

“This tour and the new MOU demonstrate the growing respect and understanding of WRI’s work in China,” said Dr. Zou Ji, WRI’s China Country Director. “WRI seeks to be a bridge between China and the U.S., helping to exchange ideas and mobilize lasting solutions to development challenges.”

The officials will have meetings with U.S. government officials, and leaders from multilateral institutions, business, academia, and foundations. Topics will focus on low-carbon development, including sub-national cooperation, carbon finance, carbon trading programs, urban planning, transport, and international climate action.

WRI has a long history of working on sustainability issues around urban development, transport, climate, and related areas. WRI recently received a five-year, $12.5 million grant from the Caterpillar Foundation to advance environmentally sustainable and livable cities in China, India, and Brazil.

“WRI is committed to improving the lives of people living in urban centers around the world,” said Bapna. “This is an exciting time for our organization’s work in China, and we’re looking forward to scaling-up our activities around sustainable cities in China and other countries in the months and years to come.”