A boy plays at the sea wall in the village of Eita on the island of Tarawa, Kiribati. The sea wall has been destroyed by rising tides. Photo: VCG

China is willing to work with Pacific Island Countries (PICs) to make COP27 a conference themed on climate change action and will provide more support to PICs in tackling climate change, Chinese representatives said during the China-Pacific Island Countries dialogue and exchange meeting on climate change, which was held in Beijing on Wednesday.

During the meeting, China's Special Envoy on Climate Change Xie Zhenhua and envoys of seven PICs - Tonga, Fiji, Micronesia, Solomon Islands, Kiribati, Samoa and Vanuatu - exchanged views on various topics, including climate change policy actions, outcome expectations and South-South cooperation on climate change for the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27).

COP27 will take place from November 7 to 18 in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt this year.

Envoys from PICs spoke highly of China's actions and achievements in addressing climate change and also gave thanks for the valuable support that China has given to PICs in this regard.

They said they are willing to further strengthen dialogue coordination on climate change with China and together make more contributions to promoting the multilateral climate process.

China is willing to work with PICs to make COP27 a conference themed on implementation and action, and achieve positive results on issues that are of the greatest concern to developing countries such as fundraising, Chinese representatives said during the meeting.

China plans to provide further support to Pacific island countries in tackling climate change, such as jointly establishing low-carbon demonstration zones, implementing climate change mitigation and adaptation projects, and conducting training. Another training course for climate change officials and technicians from Pacific island countries in the near future is scheduled, according to a statement released by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment.

China also invited ministers of Pacific island countries to attend a high-level forum on South-South cooperation on climate change during COP27.

Sun Shao, a senior research fellow from the Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences, told the Global Times on Wednesday that over the past half century or so, exchanges and cooperation between China and PICs have been expanding, covering trade and investment, marine environment, disaster prevention and reduction, poverty alleviation, and medical and health care fields.

PICs are now one of the regions in the world most affected by climate change. Holding dialogue with PICs on climate change and sharing best practices of how China copes with climate change will help deepen the comprehensive strategic partnership and build an even closer community of shared future between China and PICs through South-South cooperation, Sun noted.

China attaches great importance to tackling climate change. Through a series of policies and measures, such as adjusting industrial structure, improving energy efficiency, optimizing the energy structure and developing renewable energy, China has reached its 2020 carbon emission target ahead of schedule.

The Chinese government will strive to reach the carbon peak by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060, which fully demonstrates its responsibility as a major responsible country, Chinese representatives told the meeting.

Officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Ecology and Environment also attended the meeting in Beijing.