​Xi's visit to Monaco expected to enhance bilateral cooperation in environmental protection

The file photo shows Bernard Fautrier,the deputy director of the Fondation Prince Albert II de Monaco.[Photo: China Plus]

A director of Monaco's largest environmental protection foundation said President Xi Jinping's visit to the country is expected to help enhance cooperation in the field of environmental protection, clean energy, and wild animal conservation.

Monaco has been dedicated to fostering green economy since 1950s.

Bernard Fautrier is the deputy director of the Fondation Prince Albert II de Monaco. He said China and Monaco share a common vision when it comes to green development, and that President Xi's visit will help to enhance cooperation between the two countries in the field of environmental protection.

"I think we have common interests and a shared willingness to act against climate change by developing a strategy to move to a zero-carbon economy. I've had the privilege to be with the prince on two occasions when he's met with President Xi Jinping, and we were impressed by his strong willingness to address the question of climate change and solve the problem of pollution."

Monaco is aiming to reduce carbon emissions to half of their 1990 level by 2030, and reach zero-carbon emissions in 2050.

In order to make the transition to a zero-carbon economy, the country has offered financial support for local companies to adopt renewable energy and build new waste management facilities.

Efforts have also been made to promote the use of new energy vehicles through substantial subsidies and free-to-use charging posts,

Fautrier suggested China has a role to play in helping to replace all the country's hybrid buses with fully-electric models.

And I'm sure that China is leading more and more with regarding to the automotive industry, for both individual cars and also buses. Tests have been done in some European countries using electric buses coming from China. I'm sure the products will be high quality.

Fautrier's foundation has also launched environmental management programs in China to protect wild Siberian tigers and monitor the quality of the water in Tai Lake.

Now, they are looking to strengthen its roots in China by opening an office in Beijing.

"The Prince Albert II foundation is in the process of opening a new representative office in Beijing. This will give us many opportunities to work together."

Monaco is the second leg of President Xi's ongoing trip to Europe.

An agreement is expected to be inked during his time there to boost bilateral cooperation in environmental protection