WMO has signed a letter of intent with the China Meteorological Administration to promote regional cooperation on the Silk Road and 21st Century Maritime Silk Road Initiative.
Along Belt and Road regions, rainstorms, flooding, typhoons, heat waves and drought, low temperature and cold waves are frequent. All countries are faced with shared challenges such as meteorological disaster prevention and reduction, and response to climate change.
According to the Letter of Intent, CMA and WMO will promote meteorological support for the Belt and Road initiative. This includes work in disaster risk reduction, climate services, integrated observation, research and capacity development by reinforcing regional meteorological exchanges and collaboration, to upgrade regional disaster monitoring, forecasting and early warning capabilities and resilience to combat climate change.
“The vision of co-building a community of shared destiny, interests, and responsibility as proposed by Belt and Road Initiative is consistent with WMO's goal of promoting international and regional meteorological cooperation, and strengthening regional meteorological exchanges;” said the letter of intent.
The letter of intent was signed by Liu Yaming, Administrator of China Meteorological Administration, and WMO Secretary-General Petteri Taalas during the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation on 14 May. WMO Assistant Secretary-General Wenjian Zhang Wenjian Zhang also attended the event.
The Leaders Roundtable of the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation on 15 May was attended by heads of government and UN agencies and chaired by Chinese President Xi Jinping. A joint declaration welcomed the initative as enhancing connectivity between Asia and Europe.
The communiqué stressed the need to “protect the planet from degradation, including through taking urgent action on climate change and encouraging parties which have ratified it to full implement the Paris Agreement.”
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