8 October 2010
EU-China and EU-Republic of Korea Summits Held
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The bilateral meetings addressed progress in international climate change negotiations, energy policies, and areas for climate change cooperation.

6 October 2010: Immediately after the eighth Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) summit, which convened from 4-5 October 2010, in Brussels, Belgium, the EU held bilateral summits with China and the Republic of Korea, in which climate-related issues were addressed.

In the Joint Press Communiqué issued at the end of the 13th EU-China Summit, which took place in Brussels on 6 October 2010, leaders agree that appropriate climate change and energy policies are needed to support joint efforts toward energy savings, increasing energy efficiency, and fostering green and low-carbon development. The two sides agree to further enhance policy dialogue and practical cooperation under the framework of the EU-China Climate Change Partnership and the Energy Dialogue, focusing on renewable energy, energy efficiency, smart grids and clean-coal technologies including carbon capture and storage (CCS). They encourage research actors, in particular small and medium enterprises (SMEs), to carry out research and development (R&D) cooperation to promote energy conservation and greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction. Leaders also underline that they remain committed to: the international climate negotiations under the guidance of the Bali Action Plan; and the promotion of a positive, comprehensive and balanced outcome at the Cancun Climate Change Conference.

The Fifth Summit between the EU and the Republic of Korea took place in Brussels on 6 October 2010. In the Joint Statement issued at the conclusion of the meeting, leaders stress that both the EU and the Republic of Korea will keep pursuing a high level of ambition to tackle climate change challenges by striving for GHG emission reductions commensurate with their level of economic development and pursue low-carbon green growth. They stress the importance of market-based mechanisms to achieve emission reductions and note that the EU’s emissions trading scheme experience is a useful example in this respect. Leaders further agree that cooperation should focus on financing mechanisms, as well as supporting green growth and clean development in third countries. [EU-China Joint Press Communiqué] [EU-Republic of Korea Joint Press Statement]

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