China's Ministry of Environmental Protection, the United Nations Environment Program and Dow Chemical (China) have signed an agreement to collaborate on promoting chemical safety and emergency preparedness in the chemical industry in China.

The partnership will support the development of the safer production of chemicals and safety management systems in pilot industries. It will also assist the ministry and other organizations in improving local awareness and preparedness for industrial environmental emergencies.

Zhang Lijun, the vice minister of MEP, said China is facing formidable, but reachable goals concerning safety and emergency response. The chemical industry plays a very important role in the country's development, and this program will draw China closer to where it needs to be by having safer places to work and live.

Arab Hoballah, chief of the Sustainable Consumption and Production Branch of UNEP, stated that this project will assist in building capacity in the MEP and in the chemical industry and its value chain and is line with UNEP's Bali Strategic Plan on Technology Support and Capacity Building.

Expected deliverables for the program include the development of training material to help build capacity with local companies, the organization of training systems and the development of case studies. The project will last for two years.