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China calls for green technology cooperation

By Li Xing and Lan Lan (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-12-07 07:20

CANCUN, Mexico - China is intensifying technology cooperation and transfer with other developing countries under the South-South Cooperation to address climate change and ensure sustainable development, a senior technical official said.

Apart from such partnership mechanisms within developing countries, industrial nations are being called on to contribute more to realize pledges and fulfill obligations on climate financing and technology transfer to developing countries, according to Liu Yanhua, counselor of the State Council.

Liu, also the former vice-minister of Science and Technology, spoke with China Daily on the sidelines of the ongoing climate talks in Cancun, Mexico.

"China has done lots of work in providing technical assistance of clean technologies and agricultural technologies to developing countries through the South-South Cooperation - including both core technologies and some pragmatic technologies," Liu said.

These technologies adapt well to local technical levels in an efficient way, thanks to the similar development experience and approach between China and other developing countries, he said.

China has been a strong, long-term supporter and active participant in the South-South Cooperation - but traditional cooperation has mainly focused on sectors such as infrastructure and production, Liu added.

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Science and technology cooperation have been stepped up in the past decade. According to the website of the Ministry of Science and Technology, more than 20 organizations including the China Science and Technology Exchange Center and the Administrative Center for China's Agenda 21 have participated in the South-South Cooperation on Science and Technology for sustainable development.

Endeavors mainly involve projects in areas such as small hydropower, renewable energy, biogas, training programs and workshops.

Small hydropower projects have been widely used in helping developing countries to ease energy shortage pressures. China's non-profit International Center on Small Hydro Power has established four pilot small hydropower bases in China and three sub-centers in India, Nigeria and Colombia.

The center has trained more than 700 engineers from 50 countries. It provides technical consultations, a feasibility study, equipment supplies and installation in more than 30 countries, aiming at supplying affordable energy for developing countries.

Another pioneer is the Gansu Natural Energy Research Institute. After carefully studying Kenya's special circumstances with high temperatures and high humidity, the institute has tailored a small-scale solar photovoltaic system and water heating system for that country.

Now that research and development of the system has been completed, it is expected to be implemented in other African countries.

Similarly, more than 870 solar energy technicians and officials from 106 countries have been trained at the institute over the past 15 years.

China, Liu said, will continue to share its experiences with an increasing number of developing countries in the context of technical and economic linkages among developing countries in the coming years.

China Daily