Recently the Mechanism for International Sustainable Infrastructure Promotion (MISIP) held its first working meeting in Beijing. Julia Mao, Director of the International Cooperation at IIGF attended the meeting and participated in the expert panel.
MISIP is a working mechanism jointly initiated by the China International Contractors Association (CHINCA), the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), the UNEP and the World Wide Fund for Nature. The mechanism aims to bring together domestic and international resources, build a cooperation platform and a network of partners, and jointly lead infrastructure projects to a more diversified, inclusive, green, low-carbon and climate-resilient and sustainable direction.
Forty-eight representatives from the first 27 MISIP members attended the meeting and shared their opinions. The meeting kicked off by the brief introduction of the mechanism by the representatives from the lead organizations, including:
- Fang Qiu Chen, Chairman of China International Contractors Association (CHINCA),
- Sun Yuanjiang, Manager for Partnership and Regional Cooperation of AIIB,
- Zhou Fei, Chief Programme Officer of WWF China,
- Thorsten Giehler, Chief Representative of GIZ in China,
- Rowan Palmer, Programme Management Officer at UNEP’s Resources and Markets Branch,
- Zhang Xiang, Vice Chairman of CHINCA
Shang Shengping, Director of the Strategy and Consulting Department of CHINCA, presided over the meeting.
Fang Qiu Chen pointed out that sustainable development has become a key concern in the international infrastructure development. He suggested that MISIP should focus on three aspects in the future: improving the top-level design, expanding member networks and promoting efficient cooperation, while keeping in mind goal-oriented approach, focusing on the key needs of each member and promoting practical exchanges and cooperation, to maximize the impact of the mechanism.
Zhang Xiang summarized the background for establishing MISIP. It was formally established last September and its members include international organizations, financial institutions, infrastructure enterprises, academic institutions and ministry centres, etc. The main objectives are to promote knowledge sharing, support financing cooperation, strengthen capacity, set up project models, provide financing services and build a partner network.
In the discussion session, representatives put forward valuable suggestions in terms of financing innovation, carbon asset management, green technology and ESG consulting services, taking into account the advantages and characteristics of their organizations. All parties unanimously expressed their willingness to strengthen cooperation among members and promote ESG standards and capacity building. They presented that they will make efforts to promote the development and construction of sustainable infrastructure projects and help achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Mao Qian, Director of the International Cooperation Department of the International Institute of Green Finance of CUFE, attended the meeting and said that as a professional think tank in the field of green finance, IIGF has a good research foundation in ESG research and practice, Green Belt and Road Initiative and international cooperation, and is willing to actively support the work of MISIP. As one of the first partners of MISIP, IIGF will build on its strong research capacity and work together with its partners to continuously innovate in theory and practice in the field of international sustainable infrastructure.