Green goals to build business bridges with Europe

By Zhang Chunyan

The slew of green targets and initiatives outlined in China's new five-year plan will throw open several opportunities for domestic and European businesses, say experts.

"With China giving top priority for low-carbon growth, there are considerable opportunities for UK businesses with low-carbon knowledge, capability, and commercial expertise," Susan Haird, acting chief executive of UK Trade & Investment, told China Daily during an interview in London.

"It is important that we continue to increase two-way investment (between our countries) in low-carbon goods and services, as this will lead to the increased growth of a global low-carbon economy," Haird says.

China's 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-2015) seeks to achieve a more balanced approach to growth and development, with greater attention on the environment and sustainable development.

Green and low-carbon sectors have been identified as the core of a new industrial strategy and an important pillar for growth. The National People's Congress, China's legislative body, approved the new thrust at its annual session on March 14.

"The UK and China must continue to collaborate in developing to ensure both countries' future economic prosperity and environmental security," Haird says.

China and Scotland sealed a major green energy deal when Vice-Premier Li Keqiang visited the United Kingdom in January.

The agreement, worth 6.4 million pounds (7.33 million euros), will see technology pioneered in Scotland used at a new renewable-energy conversion plant in China.

The licensing deal was reached between the Sino-Scottish company Shanghai Huanuan Boiler and Vessel Co/Cochran and the Scotland-based W2E Engineering, which specializes in generating electricity from domestic waste.

Like the UK, some European countries' current leadership in low-carbon technologies means that they can be the first in line to benefit from the growth in China's green markets.

China and Germany signed a deal to cooperate on low-carbon product certification in October 2009, the first such foreign cooperative program undertaken by China's Ministry of Environmental Protection.