Canada-China Collaboration

2010 marks the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Canada and China!

To celebrate this important milestone and support continued collaboration on environmental issues for the next 40 years, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)on Environmental Cooperation has recently been signed between the two countries.

What is an MOU?

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is a jointly signed agreement that formalizes the roles, responsibilities, objectives and other common understandings of the participating organizations in laying the foundation for a cooperative arrangement. The MOU recently signed by Canada and China encourages collaboration on future environmental projects and activities between the two countries.

The Canada-China MOU on Environmental Cooperation

With a total population of 1.3 billion people and a rapidly growing economy, China plays a significant international role in addressing a variety of environmental issues. Canada's bilateral collaboration with countries like China allows for the sharing of information, best practices and brings about new opportunities for learning and research.

Former Environment Minister Jim Prentice met with Chinese officials on October 28 and 29 to discuss a variety of environmental issues, with the signing of the MOU on Environmental Cooperation on October 29.

Environmental cooperation has been identified as a key element of the bilateral relationship between Canada and China. The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on Environmental Cooperation encourages enhanced cooperation in this area. The Canada-China Joint Committee on Environmental Cooperation will have responsibility to implement this MOU.

Cooperation across continents

This new MOU continues a great tradition of Environment Canada's successful collaboration with China on environmental cooperation over the last 25 years. Joint projects for meteorological science, environmental management, air and water pollution control, and biodiversity conservation have been successfully undertaken in the past.

Environment Canada's Meteorological Service of Canada (MSC) has an MOU with China called the Canada-China Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Science and Technology Related to Meteorology, Hydrology, Environmental Predictions and Climate Change.

The MSC has worked with the China Meteorological Administration for almost a quarter century making this agreement one of the longest standing MOUs between China and Environment Canada. This MOU works to enhance and maximize the two countries' capabilities.

One aspect of the collaboration under this MOU was the development of SNOW V10, a "nowcasting" technology that provides very short-range and detailed weather forecasts, which was used for the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Outside of the Meteorological Service of Canada's MOU, Canada has also provided China with a model of enforcement practices to protect biological diversity, and exchanged scientific expertise, people and research on the environment with China.

Looking to the future...

The Canada-China MOU on Environmental Cooperation will strengthen our bilateral relationship with China. This MOU, together with other agreements, promote a mutual understanding and collaborative action for environmental concerns which affect both countries.

Learn more about the signing of this MOU and the former minister's recent visit by checking out these links: Canada Signs Environmental Cooperation Agreement With China and Canada-China Renewed Memorandum of understanding on environmental cooperation.