Swedish COP25 delegation head meets EPA minister in Spain

Berlin, Dec. 14 (CNA) The head of Sweden's delegation to the 25th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 25) met with Taiwan's minister of the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) on Thursday on the sideline of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) meeting in Spain.

The meeting was characterized by Taiwan's representative office in Sweden as the northern European country showing support for Taiwan's bid to join the UNFCCC.

During the meeting between Mattias Frumerie and EPA minister Chang Tzi-Chin (張子敬), the two sides exchanged views and shared their experiences combating climate change, according to the office in Sweden.

Frumerie works on climate finance and climate diplomacy at the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, including climate mainstreaming in development cooperation and external relations, the office added.

This is the first time a Swedish head of COP, the decision-making body of the UNFCCC has held talks with Taiwan's EPA minister on the sideline of the annual COP meeting, the office said.

The meeting came after nine Swedish parliamentarians, over the past two months, asked their government to take concrete action in support of Taiwan's bid to join the UNFCCC as an observer, despite the two countries not having official diplomatic relations, according to the office.

Sweden has long been considered a leading country in combating climate change globally, the office added.

In 2017, the country passed legislation setting the target of zero net greenhouse gas emissions by 2045 at the latest.

Taiwan is not a member of the United Nations and has been blocked by China from engaging in many UN-related organizations and institutions, including participation in meetings related to the UNFCCC.

Although Taiwan was not allowed to take part in the COP25, Chang headed a delegation made up of representatives from different agencies that traveled to Spain.

Once there, they met with other participants on the sidelines of the conference held in Madrid from Dec. 2 to 13, to show the nation's determination to play a role in the global fight against climate change.

Chang previously told CNA that he met a number of COP25 delegation heads from Taiwan's diplomatic allies and non-allies, including Sweden, the United Kingdom, Germany and the European Union during his stay in Spain.