China-Europe water cooperation built in Turku in September

In September 2017 a high-level political conference on water cooperation will be organised in Turku, Helsinki. On the agenda at the conference are the water-related UN Sustainable Development Goals, water in circular economy, and strengthening the cooperation between European and Chinese water companies.

The event is also the Annual High Level Dialogue Conference of the China-Europe Water Platform CEWP. The CEWP is a collaboration network of the European Union and the Ministry of Water Resources of China for the governance, research and companies in the water sector.

The conference will take place on 21–22 September in Turku Castle. The keynote speakers are the Minister for Housing, Energy and the Environment of Finland Kimmo Tiilikainen, Minister of Water Resources of China Chen Lei, and the European Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Karmenu Vella. Other European ministers have also been invited.

Planning is under way for an extensive Business Event for Chinese and European companies in the water sector, to be held in connection with the conference. Customised visits will be organised to Finnish companies striving to gain access to the Chinese markets. There will also be an innovation event for representatives from universities and research institutions.

The event is organised in cooperation between the Finnish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Ministry of the Environment, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment for Southwest Finland, City of Turku, Regional Council of Southwest Finland, Regional Council of Satakunta, Southwest Coast Platform for Water Expertise and several partners in Finland and abroad, the Ministry of Water Resources of China, and the EU Commission.

Finland is very active in the work of the CEWP. The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry will head the EU CEWP Secretariat in 2018–2019. This will further strengthen Finland’s position in the CEWP.

Inquiries at the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry:
Seppo Rekolainen, Director of International Water Cooperation, seppo.rekolainen(at)mmm.fi, tel. +358 295 162 086
Olli-Matti Verta, Ministerial Adviser, olli-matti.verta(at)mmm.fi, tel. tel. +358 295 162 123
www.2017cewp.org