27 January 2026, Beijing – A delegation from the China–World Bank Group (WBG) Global Ecosystems Center (CWGC), led by Mr André Aquino, Lead Environmental Specialist, visited the UNEP-IEMP to explore synergistic opportunities for collaboration in the field of ecosystem restoration and sustainable development, with a particular focus on sharing China's experiences globally.

Mr Aquino introduced CWGC, which was officially launched in late 2024 under the auspices of the Chinese Ministry of Finance. He highlighted the Center's mission to promote Chinese expertise and proven practices in ecological restoration to the world, and to facilitate mutual learning. Prof. Zhang Linxiu, UNEP-IEMP Director, extended congratulations on the establishment of the CWGC. She introduced the founding and operational modality of UNEP-IEMP, highlighting the Flagship Programme on Climate-Ecosystem-Livelihood (CEL) nexus approach. She emphasized UNEP-IEMP's role in bridging science and policy through global networks, particularly the Chinese Ecosystem Research Network (CERN).

The CWGC delegation expressed strong interest in collaborating with UNEP-IEMP, recognizing complementary strengths, while UNEP-IEMP affirmed its readiness to advance the partnership. This engagement marks a promising step towards fostering powerful synergies between the two global centres to accelerate progress on ecosystem restoration and sustainable development worldwide.