The concept of circular economy was first highlighted into the policy system by the State Council and the National Development Reform of Commission (NDRC) in the Several Opinions Concerning Accelerating the Development of Circular Economy in 2005. Since then, the circular economy has been one of the priorities of China’s overall social and economic development, and NDRC’s Department of Resource Conservation and Environmental Protection has been the leading government department for circular economy. In 2008, the Circular Economy Promotion Law was promulgated by the National People’s Congress (NPC) and came into effect from 1 January 2009. To echo the principles of Circular Economy Promotion Law, the Law on Promotion of Cleaner Production was revised by the NPC in 2012.
Considering the circular economy covers a wide range of industries and sectors, including but not limited to cleaner production, low carbon emission, green manufacturing, green standards, green finance, remanufacturing, reuse, reduce and recycle of resources, energy and waste, NDRC, jointly with other relevant departments, for instance, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE), the Ministry of Finance (MOF), the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM), the Ministry of Housing and Urban-rural Development (MOHURD) and the State Administration of Standardization (SAC), has released several policies to facilitate this initiative, including the Action Plan on Leading Circular Development, the Notice on Measures and Opinions on Supporting Investment and Financing Policies for the Development of Circular Economy, and the Notice on Facilitating the Construction of Circular Economy Bases.
To better understand the essence of circular economy in China as well as its impact and potential opportunities for European business, the European Chamber is pleased to invite Mr. Lu Dongsen, Director, Division of Circular Economy, Department of Resource Conservation and Environmental Protection of NDRC (国家发改委资源节约和环境保护司循环经济处陆冬森处长), to share his insight and analysis on the development of circular economy in China and opportunities for European business, followed by a roundtable discussion with members.
Agenda:
13:30-14:00: Registration
14:00-14:10: Welcome remarks by the National Vice Chair of Environment Working Group, Dr. Christoph Schrempp
14:05-14:45: Presentation on the development of circular economy in China by Mr. Lu Dongsen, Director, Division of
Circular Economy, Department of Resource Conservation and Environmental Protection, NDRC
(国家发改委资源节约和环境保护司循环经济处陆冬森处长)
14:45-15:30: Successful practice sharing by European business on circular economy
- Case study by Mr. Jet Chang, Vice President, TOMRA
- Case study by Mr. Zhang Xiaobo, Manager for Strategy and Corporate Affairs, Veolia
15:30-16:00: Q&A