June 5-8, 2018, the fourth business delegation activity of European enterprises' China Gateway was held in Beijing. The event enhanced business cooperation between Chinese and European environmental and water technology companies. Nearly 300 Chinese business representatives attended the two-day business fair and discussed potential cooperation opportunities with 38 European companies from 14 EU member States, during which more than 600 business meetings were held. Both Chinese and European business representatives spoke highly of the quality and relevance of the meeting.
In recent years, the Chinese government has put environmental protection high on its agenda, focusing on policies to tackle pollution and promote the development of green industries. During the 13th Five-Year Plan from 2016 to 2020, government investment in the environmental protection industry is expected to exceed 17 trillion yuan, and the output value of the environmental protection industry is expected to reach 8 trillion yuan. Soil remediation accounted for 30 percent, water treatment and waste disposal 26 percent, and air pollution control investment accounted for 10 percent.
Given the scale and complexity of China's environmental pollution problems, the country is emerging as one of the largest markets for customizable environmental technologies. Working together to solve China's environmental problems was a key agenda during the European Business Gateway China Business Mission. It is of great significance to explore quality environmental solutions for Chinese and European companies.
The business delegation activity organized a field trip to Beijing Drainage Group. The event provides European companies with first-hand information on China's water treatment infrastructure and technology, and concludes with a visit to the Beijing Drainage Group's research and development centre with the latest innovative technologies.
On the last day of the delegation, European companies went to the 16th China International Environmental Protection Exhibition. As a platform for the exchange of cutting-edge technologies in the field of environment and water and the exploration of commercial development opportunities, the exhibition provides visitors with first-hand information on China's environmental protection market, and showcases water pollution prevention and control, air pollution prevention and control, solid waste treatment and disposal and resource utilization, noise and vibration control and other technologies. The tour provides an opportunity for European companies to see firsthand the current development of the environmental protection industry. Chinese and European enterprises also held several additional business docking meetings at the exhibition site.
This business delegation was also supported by China Environmental Protection Industry Association, Investment Promotion Bureau of Ministry of Commerce, Investment Promotion Alliance of China European Business Association, Teda Low Carbon Promotion Center, China Association of Small and Medium Enterprises, China Society of Environmental Sciences, China Energy Conservation and Environmental Protection Group Corporation, China Circular Economy Association and other units Assist.
Ms. Natividad Lorenzo, Representative of the EU Delegation to China, attended the activities of the delegation and concluded: "The European Gateway to China programme brings the best European companies into the Chinese market and makes it easier for European companies to do business with their potential partners in China. We can see from the high expectations and enthusiasm of Chinese and European companies for EU-China trade and increased investment in important sectors that this business mission is a great success."
