The Director General for Regional and Urban Policy spoke on 29 June 2015 at the EU-China Urbanisation Forum Partnership Forum in the afternoon plenary session on 'Cooperation, Innovation and Practices'. The plenary sessions had earlier been opened officially by President Juncker and Premier Li Keqiang. In Mr Deffaa's speech at the roundtable on "sustainable urban mobility", he drew attention to the many adverse effects of transport systems in Europe as they exist at present in terms of co
- 02 July 2015
The Director General for Regional and Urban Policy spoke on 29 June 2015 at the EU-China Urbanisation Forum Partnership Forum in the afternoon plenary session on 'Cooperation, Innovation and Practices'. The plenary sessions had earlier been opened officially by President Juncker and Premier Li Keqiang.
In Mr Deffaa's speech at the roundtable on "sustainable urban mobility", he drew attention to the many adverse effects of transport systems in Europe as they exist at present in terms of congestion, air and noise pollution and damage to health. He said, "We have developed many bad habits and implemented many bad policies over decades. We have to change; there is no other option."
Earlier in a day which saw many activities relating to regional and urban policy, Walter Deffaa gave the keynote introduction to the 10th High-Level Seminar on Regional Policy Cooperation, which was a Side Event of the EU-China Summit, where he was accompanied by Mr Zou Yong, Deputy Director General ofRegional Economy in the National Development and Reform Commission, China and Mr Lambert Van Nistelrooij, MEP.
Later, in the evening, a Joint Statement was signed "On Comprehensively Deepening EU-China Regional Policy Cooperation" by Mr XU Shaoshi, Chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission and Commissioner Carlos Moedas (acting on behalf of Commissioner Corina Creţu).
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REGIO is cooperating with NDRC since the signature of the Memorandum of Understanding on regional policy cooperation in 2006 in Beijing. The dialogue has progressed well, giving rise to many actions including a yearly high-level dialogue and high-level seminar. At the 10th High-Level seminar of 29 June 2015 a comprehensive report on the cooperation on regional policy was officially launched describing the many activities that have taken place, bringing benefits to the public and private sectors on both sides.
The EU-China Urbanisation Partnership was launched by former President Barroso and Premier Li Keqiang in May 2012. The central event of the Partnership, the EU-China Urbanisation Forum, has taken place alongside the Summit.
Additional information the EU-China Summit:http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/meetings/international-summit/2015/06/29/
Additional information on EU-China cooperation on regional policy:http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/fr/policy/cooperation/international/china/