Beijing: The Minister of State for Climate Change and Sustainability, Seidu Issifu, has called for a stronger investment partnership between China and the Climate Vulnerable Forum-V20 (CVF-V20), urging Chinese public and private sector institutions to move beyond conventional trade and invest directly in climate-resilient and low-carbon development across vulnerable economies. He made the call at a high-level CVF-V20-China dialogue held at the Shougang International Convention and Exhibition Center in Beijing as part of the China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) 2026.
According to Ghana Web, the dialogue, held under the theme 'Mobilizing Investment for Energy Security and Climate Prosperity,' brought together government representatives, investors, financial institutions, businesses, and development partners from China and CVF-V20 countries. The engagement focused on translating Climate Prosperity Plans into concrete investment opportunities, with three priority areas of cooperation: electrotech and green industrialization; resilient infrastructure and water security; and climate-smart agriculture and value chains.
Speaking at the dialogue, Seidu Issifu said the CVF-V20 was approaching China with investment opportunities and country-owned development pipelines rather than a request for assistance. He emphasized that the 74-member CVF-V20 represented a significant and growing market for clean technologies, supported by abundant renewable resources, strategic geographical locations, expanding markets, and a young workforce. According to the Minister, China's leadership in clean technology, manufacturing, infrastructure development, and green industrialization placed it in a strong position to partner with climate-vulnerable countries to transform these opportunities into commercially viable investments.
Ghana's Climate Prosperity Plan was highlighted by Seidu Issifu as an example of how climate priorities could be transformed into an investment and financing framework. The plan focuses on sustainable industrialization and value addition, accelerated renewable energy and green transport, climate-resilient health and water infrastructure, financial and economic resilience, sustainable food systems, and nature-based solutions. The Minister said these instruments could help bridge financing gaps and connect Ghana's climate priorities with Chinese investment, technology, and industrial expertise.
He identified three major areas where Ghana could deepen cooperation with Chinese investors: electrotech and green industrialization, resilient infrastructure and water security, and climate-smart agriculture and value chains. The Minister also proposed four key areas of cooperation between Ghana, the CVF-V20, and China, including joint ventures and local assembly, a joint CVF-V20-China Project Preparation Facility, deeper technology transfer and institutional partnerships, and the establishment of standing mechanisms for continuity.
The Minister also highlighted Ghana's efforts to strengthen climate governance and investment planning at the sub-national level. He disclosed nationwide consultations towards securing Cabinet approval for a proposed sub-national coordination mechanism through Climate Change and Sustainability Units. Seidu Issifu said the China-CVF-V20 partnership presented an opportunity to establish a new model of South-South cooperation based on investment, mutual benefit, and shared prosperity.
The Minister's intervention reinforced Ghana's position that climate action should increasingly be viewed not only as an environmental responsibility but also as an economic transformation and investment agenda capable of creating jobs, strengthening resilience, and driving sustainable development. Following the CIFTIS dialogue, attention will turn to matching identified opportunities with investors, developing investment-ready projects, and establishing institutional arrangements to deliver measurable outcomes for Ghana and other climate-vulnerable economies.