07/11/2005
– The Honourable Stéphane Dion will visit China from
November 7-9, 2005, where he will hold a number of meetings
in preparation for Montréal 2005 - the United Nations
Climate Change Conference. The objectives of this trip are
to secure support for Canada’s approach at the upcoming
11th Conference of the Parties (COP11) to the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change and the first Meeting
of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol.
The objective of the Montreal Conference will be, first
and foremost, to agree on key decisions to implement the
Kyoto Protocol, which came into effect in February 2005;
to make improvements to some Kyoto mechanisms; and to set
an agenda for a future approach that is effective and inclusive",
Minister Dion said. “This trip provides a unique opportunity
to generate support for strong global action on climate
change.”
While in China, Minister Dion will also address the Beijing
International Renewable Energy Conference on November 7,
where he will discuss sustainable development, international
cooperation on renewable energy, technical assistance and
technology transfer, and the promotion of global renewable
energy as part of action on climate change and on other
environmental issues. In preparation
for Montréal 2005, Minister Dion will hold bilateral
meetings with members of the Chinese government as well
as environment and energy Ministers attending the Conference,
including representatives from the United Kingdom and
the European Union.
While in China, the Minister will show his support for
Canadian environmental companies active in China by meeting
with Canadian business people in the context of the annual
meeting of the Canada-China Business Council.
“As Host of the UN Climate Change Conference, we have
been actively consulting other countries to pave the way
for effective discussions in Montreal. More than 150 bilaterals
with over 40 key countries have taken place. The process
has been helped by informal Ministerial Meetings such
as the Greenland Ministerial Dialogue in August as well
as the Ottawa Ministerial in September. The meetings in
China continue Canada’s effort to ensure that the UN Climate
Change Conference achieve its objectives in terms of the
implementation of the Kyoto Protocol, improvements to
the Protocol, and the launch of discussions on a more
effective future global approach on climate change.” Minister
Dion indicated.
The Montreal Conference will take place from November
28 to December 9, 2005. |
