On September 14, 2020, as Chair of Sustainable Development Working Group of APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC), Mr. Frank Ning, Chairman of Sinochem Group, attended the Third ABAC Online Plenary Meeting in Beijing. At this meeting, he expounded on work results and policy recommendations of ABAC Sustainable Development Working Group for 2020. More than 60 ABAC representatives and 100 candidates from 21 Asia-Pacific economies attended.
In his speech, Mr. Frank Ning stressed that safeguarding energy and food security and addressing climate change, which are of fundamental significance to recovery and development of Asia-Pacific Region, has fully demonstrated the importance in the current response to COVID-19 pandemic. They are also crucial for inclusive growth and sustainable development in the “post-pandemic era”.
In view of the policy recommendations made by ABAC representatives to the leaders of APEC economies, Frank Ning stated that in terms of energy security and sustainable development, ABAC Sustainable Development Working Group proposed to continue to push forward low-carbon utilization of high-carbon industries by leaps and bounds across Asia-Pacific Region, improve the efficiency of materials and energy, minimize carbon footprint of the entire industrial chain, and introduce more policies to encourage independent innovation and voluntary energy conservation and emission reduction. In terms of response to climate change and the development of circular economy, ABAC Sustainability Working Group recommended to design and formulate policies and mechanisms for reducing carbon emissions according to local conditions. Moreover, the economies should proactively share technologies and innovation achievements, and vigorously resolve such thorny environmental problems as marine plastic waste. In terms of food security and smart agriculture, ABAC Sustainable Development Working Group suggested on continuously enhancing resilience of the food supply chain, taking digital means at all aspects towards the higher peak of smart agriculture, and making efforts to reduce loss and waste of the food.
In concluding remarks, Mr. Frank Ning pointed out that Energy, Food and Climate Change, with which ABAC Sustainable Development Working Group is concerned, have become the priorities of many economies in the “post-pandemic era”. Next, ABAC Sustainable Development Working Group will make the utmost of reconstruction and recovery opportunities in the “post-pandemic era”, try hard in echo with new changes, proactively steer new developments, facilitate the alleviation of the mid-term and long-term adverse effects from COVID-19 pandemic from the perspective of industrial and commercial circles, and give advice and suggestions on achieving more resilient, safer and more sustainable development in Asia-Pacific Region.
At this meeting, Letter of ABAC Representatives to Leaders of APEC Economies, Letter of ABAC to Ministers of Agriculture and Ministers of Health of APEC Economies and other documents were also reviewed and approved.