On June 21, 2024, Mr. Zhao Yingmin, Vice Minister of Ecology and Environment met with Ms. Ted Chaiban, United Nations Assistant Secretary-General and UNICEF Deputy Executive Director, in Beijing. The two sides held in-depth exchanges on topics including China's progress and achievements in addressing climate change, South-South cooperation on climate change, and issues related to children and health. They also jointly witnessed the signing of a Letter of Intent (LOI) between the Foreign Economic Cooperation Office (FECO) of the MEE and UNICEF.

Present at the meeting were Ms. Zhou Guomei, Director-General of the Department of International Cooperation of the MEE; Mr. Duan Guangming, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Laws, Regulations and Standards of the MEE; Mr. Lu Shize, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Climate Change of the MEE; Ms. Carla Haddad Mardini, Director of the Private Fundraising and Partnerships Division of UNICEF; Amakobe Sande, UNICEF Representative to China; and Dr. Bidya Banmali, UNICEF Deputy Representative to China. Mr. Ding Hui, Secretary of the Commission for Discipline Inspection of FECO, was also present.

Vice Minister Zhao Yingmin outlined the progress and achievements in implementing China's climate change strategy and shared China's policies and actions in conducting South-South cooperation on climate change. He thanked UNICEF for its long-standing attention and support for China's work on climate change adaptation and youth engagement in climate action. He expressed willingness to work with UNICEF to continue exchanges and cooperation in areas such as enhancing the capacity of children in China and other regions to adapt to climate change, promoting South-South cooperation on climate change, and mobilizing youth participation in climate action, so as to contribute China's strength to global climate governance.

Ms. Chaiban highly appreciated China's leadership in global climate governance and South-South cooperation on climate change. She expressed willingness to continue deepening practical cooperation with China to jointly promote the participation of youth and children in climate action, enhance the climate resilience of vulnerable groups, and contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Both sides agreed to build upon existing work to facilitate more cooperative outcomes supporting climate change adaptation for vulnerable groups, including children and adolescents. Witnessed by Vice Minister Zhao Yingmin and Deputy Executive Director Chaiban, FECO and the UNICEF China Office signed the Letter of Intent. Under the framework of this LOI, FECO and UNICEF will deepen cooperation in three areas: Climate Adaptation for Children, South-South Climate Cooperation, and Youth Participation in Climate Action. They will jointly build a multi-stakeholder cooperation platform encompassing policy, science, business, and communities for climate action, provide innovative youth-led solutions for climate action and sustainable development, and promote the regional implementation of the Global Development Initiative.