Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) President Wang Weiguang recently met with Italian Minister of Environment, Territory and Oceans Gian Luca Galletti, with the pair agreeing both countries have vast areas of cooperation in global environmental protection. Italian Ambassador to China Alberto Bradanini was also present at the meeting.

After extending a warm welcome to Galletti, Wang acknowledged the long-term friendly cooperation between CASS and the Italian Ministry of Environment, Territory and Oceans (METO).

As a top-tier academy dedicated to research of social sciences in China, Wang said CASS is leading the charge internationally in fields of environment and climate change. CASS has prominent experts in environmental studies as well as specialists engaged in studies of territorial and maritime issues, he added.

Furthermore, Wang urged deeper cooperation between CASS and Italy’s METO on issues of mutual interest, so that the two sides can pave the way for China and Italy to play positive roles in environmental protection and climate change.

Calletti said that both Italy and the European Union (EU) attach high importance to environmental issues, citing a recent agreement signed by EU countries that pledged Europe would reduce carbon emissions by 40 percent by 2030.

“We hope that other countries outside Europe, especially developing countries led by China, can join hands with Europe to strive for the goal,” said Galletti.

“Italy faced similar environmental problems amid its industrialization in the 1950s and 1960s, and has accumulated some experience in coping with them. We can make joint efforts in the future to achieve research breakthroughs in some key areas and strengthen cooperation between Chinese and Italian enterprises,” he added.

The Chinese version appeared in Chinese Social Sciences Today (CASS Issue), No. 272, Nov 14, 2014.

Translated by Chen Mirong

Revised by Tom Fearon