From May 19 to 23, 2025, the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development (CCICED) Special Policy Study (SPS) on Circular Economy successfully conducted a delegation tour in China. Participants explored circular economy initiatives and engaged in bilateral exchanges with key stakeholders. It was led by Ms. Ilka Hirt, Deputy Director General for International Policy at the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN), and Prof. Hu Qing from the Southern University of Science and Technology. Both serve as Special Advisors to CCICED and Co-Team Lead of the SPS. The delegation included members of the international and Chinese project teams and representatives from the CCICED Secretariat.

The SPS, under the Task Force on “Sustainable Production and Consumption,” focuses on identifying best practices in circular economy across countries, with a particular emphasis on the textile and chemical sectors. It aims to assess the potential for high-quality development and deliver actionable policy recommendations for circular economy implementation in China and globally. The study combines desk research, big data analysis, expert interviews, and site visits. The strong expert base ensures robust results to support green circular transformation at both national and international levels.

The overarching goal of the tour was to bring together international and Chinese experts to share insights and innovations, and to observe how businesses apply circular economy policies in practice. Visits to companies demonstrated on-the-ground implementation, while meetings with research institutions and think tanks provided up-to-date perspectives on emerging trends.

International participants included representatives from the German Environment Agency (UBA), the Oeko-Institut, and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation (EMF). Supported by the Sino-German Environmental Partnership, the SPS promotes international collaboration to advance circular economy principles and provide informed policy advice to the Chinese government.