SUWON — Minister of Environmental Protection Li Ganjie on Aug 25 called for closer cooperation between China, South Korea and Japan on the improvement of air quality.

Li made the remarks during a news conference after the 19th tripartite environment ministers’ meeting in Suwon, South Korea, attended by Li, his South Korean counterpart Kim Eun-kyung and his Japanese counterpart Masaharu Nakagawa.

Li said improving air quality, a top priority of common concern among the three countries, is the first area of cooperation under the action plan on environmental cooperation for the 2015-2019 period, adopted in 2015.

Li noted that the three countries have carried out substantial cooperation in recent years in tackling air pollution and sand storms, playing a positive role in improving the air quality at home and in the region.

He hoped the three sides would continue giving full play to their respective advantages, and share experiences on environmental protection on the basis of mutual respect and win-win cooperation.

The environment ministers also discussed the latest regional environmental policies, environmental issues and implementation of the joint action plan.

Li introduced China’s environmental protection progress, stressing that China has taken the most robust and solid measures, and achieved the fastest progress and best results in eco-civilization construction and ecological environment protection during the past five years.

South Korean and Japanese ministers also introduced their respective country’s latest environmental policies and progress.

The three sides exchanged views on global and regional environmental issues, such as the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the 15th Conference of Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, as well as ecological and environmental protection cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative.

During the meeting, Li put forward a series of proposals for tackling global and regional environmental problems and boosting trilateral environmental cooperation.

Li said the three sides should push forward the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and the development of a green Belt and Road.

Efforts should be made to seek substantial achievements on the 15th Conference of Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, said the minister.

He added that the three countries should also strengthen the regional leading role of the tripartite environment ministers’ meeting and the trilateral cooperation.