On Nov. 12, 2009, the 2009 Annual General Meeting (AGM) of CCICED held an open forum on “Promoting Low Carbon Economy in Response to Climate Change”. The forum was co-chaired by Mr. Xie Zhenhua, CCICED Vice Chairperson and Vice Chairman of NDRC and Mr. Børge Brende, CCICED Vice Chairperson and Secretary General of Norwegian Red Cross. Also present at the meeting were Ms. Margaret Biggs, Executive Vice Chairperson of CCICED, Mr. Zhu Guangyao, CCICED Secretary General, Council Members and Task Force Co-chairs.

　　Based on the draft of Policy Recommendations of CCICED to be submitted to the Government of China, Council Members and parties concerned exchanged views on major policy issues related to China’s environment and development. They had extensive dialogue on how China can coordinate energy and development to realize a transformation for a long-term and sustainable development. The meeting specially invited officials and scholars from NDRC, MEP, Development Research Center of the State Council, Policy Research Office of CPC Central Committee, Chinese Academy of Engineering, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Tsinghua University and Renmin University.

　　Several speakers were invited to make presentations at the forum including Mr. Feng Fei, Director of Department of Industrial Economic Research, Development Research Center of the State Council; Mr. Lars-Erik Liljelund, Senior Advisor on Climate Change, Swedish Prime Minister Office; Mr. Du Xiangwan, Deputy Director of Chinese Academy of Engineering and Mr. Roger Beale, Senior Associate, the Allen Consulting Group from Australia. They explored strategic issues on development of low carbon economy in China, particularly on challenges facing China and how to reduce emissions while retaining growth of the economy. Special attention was devoted to practical problems such as investment in low carbon economy, technology transfer, technical R & D and international cooperation as well as capacity building of small and medium enterprises in low carbon production and operation.

　　The discussion of the forum was reported to the AGM and some were incorporated into the Policy Recommendations to Government of China.