1. China’s first high-rise wood framework building
A ceremony was held recently to launch the China/Canada Green Modern Wood Framework Industrial Zone and the China/Canada Center. These events were a prelude to joint work to construct a wooden high-rise building.

Construction of China’s first multi-storey wood building will be in Youxi County, Sanming City in Fujian Province. It has been estimated that around RMB3.5 billion will be invested in a China/Canada ‘Modern Wood Framework Industrial Zone’ in Sanming City. The first high-rise wooden building will rise some 70 metres or 12 storeys.

2. Cooperation between China and Central/Eastern Europe on forestry
The first high level meeting under a forestry cooperation mechanism between China and Central and Eastern European countries, the so-called ‘16+1’, was held in Buldo, Slovenia in late May and a ‘Plan of Action for the Coordination Mechanism for Forestry Cooperation between China, Central and Eastern European Countries’ was agreed.

The Chinese government is aware that countries in Central and Eastern Europe are an emerging power in Europe and aim to link this group to China’s ‘Belt and Road’ initiative. Analysts write that there is great potential for cooperation on forestry development and economic cooperation between China and 16 Central and Eastern European countries.

The Chinese government has pledged to vigorously support the ‘16 + 1’ forestry cooperation initiative to deepen cooperation. At the same time it will encourage the development of a green economy and green industries and encourage mutual exchange and transfer of green science and technology.

3. China/Russia timber industry alliance
A China/Russia Wood Alliance was launched recently with a alliance secretariat attached to the China Forestry Property Right Exchange. In the future the two countries will cooperate in areas of forestry property rights trading and a forest products information platform and on forest product certification, financial services and areas of business interests for the Chinese and Russian timber industry.

(Source: http://www.globalwood.org and The International Tropical Timber Organization, ITTO)