On January 20, 2025, the Kick-Off Meeting of the Special Policy Study (SPS) on Promote High-Quality Development with Circular Economy within the research framework of the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development (CCICED) was conducted virtually. The meeting was attended by the Chinese Chief Advisor of CCICED, Prof. Liu Shijn, along with members of the international and the Chinese project teams and representatives from the CCICED Secretariat. The primary objective of this meeting was to define the research focus and define the timeline to implement this study, with its first step to elaborate the Implementation Plan.

The SPS, under the Task Force on “Sustainable Production and Consumption,” aims to compile the best practices for circular economy in different countries, examine and identify the potential for the high-quality development of the circular economy in the fields of textiles and chemicals, and deliver recommendations for implementing circular economy in China and globally. The methods will include desk research, big data analysis, expert interviews, and site visits. The large number of experts who are participating ensures a particularly high quality of the results, which will serve as a decision-making support for China’s and the world’s green circular transformation.

The study is led by Deputy Director General Ms Ilka Hirt, International Policy, from the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety, and Consumer Protection (BMUV) as International Team Lead and Prof Hu Qing, Professor of Southern University of Science and Technology as Chinese Team Lead. Both serve as Special Advisors to CCICED. The international coordination of the study will be managed by the Oeko-Institut, one of Europe’s leading independent research and consulting institutions for a sustainable future. The institute has been working since 1977 to develop foundations and strategies for implementing the vision of sustainable development globally, nationally, and locally.

Prof. Hu Qing introduced the overall implementation plan. She reviewed the development of China’s circular economy policies and summarized the measures taken by the Chinese government in resource efficient utilization and industrial green transformation. Ms. Ilka Hirt pointed out the urgency of circular economy transformation in her speech and emphasized the systematic role of circular economy in addressing resource pressure and environmental challenges. She also introduced the results of the Scoping Study for this topic, with the core measures of Germany’s national circular economy strategy and the EU action plan, concluding the key role of policy synergy in promoting efficient resource utilization.

This Kick-Off meeting gathered the Chinese CCICED Chief Advisor, SPS team members, as well as Chinese and international experts to provide valuable inputs and suggestions for the implementation of the SPS. Discussions focused on defining the overall research objectives and key focus areas, as well as developing the SPS implementation plan. The plan will outline critical elements, including the research background, objectives, content, methodology, work plan, and timelines.

Supported by the Sino-German Environmental Partnership, the study will involve collaboration with Chinese and international experts, aiming to foster a mutual understanding and implementation of circular economy principles, and to provide policy recommendations to the Chinese government.