To promote the exchanges and cooperation between the Netherlands and Sichuan in urban green and low carbon transition and development, a delegation led by Commissioner Margot from the Netherlands Scientific Council for Government Policy paid an official visit to Sichuan during June 18th to 20th. Mr. Yang Hongbo, Vice Governor of Sichuan Provincial People's Government, met and hosted a banquet for these delegates.

　　Mr. Yang Hongbo extended sincere welcome to Mrs. Margot and the delegation. He introduced Sichuan’s social and economic development in recent years and the investment and cooperation between the Netherlands and Sichuan. He said that currently, Sichuan was in an accelerating period for urbanization and industrialization. Sichuan was also faced with major development strategic opportunities including the second rould Western China Development Strategy, “One Belt and One Road” Strategy, the Yangtze River Economic Belt, and Comprehensive Innovation and Reform Pilot Zone Construction and so on. Sichuan would embrace with larger development opportunities and space. He pointed out that as the largest province for clean energy and energy transmission hub in China, Sichuan would become the largest producing base for qualified clean energy in China during the 13th Five-Year Plan Period in order to accumulate experiences for “energy revolution”. Sichuan and the Netherlands would witness promising cooperation future and huge cooperation space. He hoped that this visit would promote learning and exchanges in urban green and low carbon transition and development between the Netherlands and Sichuan, further drive comprehensive cooperation in economic and social fields between Sichuan and the Netherlands even the EU countries, and continuously enhance the opening level of Sichuan. He suggested the Netherlands Scientific Council for Government Policy should strengthen exchanges with Sichuan’s academic circles, especially with universities in Sichuan, promote the advanced ideas and technologies of the Netherlands and the EU in terms of green and low carbon development, enhance the student and teacher exchanges between universities in the Netherlands and in Sichuan, reserve personnel and talents for economic and social development, and improve cooperation between the companies in Sichuan and the Netherlands based on the actual features of Sichuan, popularize the advanced ideas, technologies, talents, funds, and successful experiences of the Netherlands and the EU in terms of urban green and low carbon development in Sichuan. He hoped that the Netherlands Scientific Council for Government Policy could take good use of this visit in Sichuan to have a deeper understanding of Sichuan and China, promote cooperation between companies through government exchanges, and take vital function for enhancing international low carbon city project development and the comprehensive exchanges and cooperation between Sichuan and the Netherlands.

　　Mrs. Margot extended sincere gratitude towards the meeting of Mr. Yang Hongbo. She said that the economic and social achievements of Sichuan and results for the exchanges and cooperation with Sichuan had left a deep impression on them. She agreed with Mr. Yang Hongbo’s evaluations on the cooperation between Sichuan and the Netherlands, and was willing to take good use of urban green and low carbon transition development projects to promote exchanges, economic trade and cooperation and personnel exchanges between Sichuan and the Netherlands, even EU countries.

　　Mr. Huang Xiaoping, Vice Secretary General of Sichuan Provincial People's Government, and leaders from relevant provincial departments also attended the banquet.

　　During their period in Sichuan, Mrs. Margot and her colleagues would also have formal discussions with Sichuan Development and Reform Commission, Sichuan Provincial Economic and Information Commission, Science and Technology Department of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Provincial Department of Environmental Protection, Sichuan Provincial Department of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, and Sichuan Provincial Department of Commerce and so on.