The importance of reaching agreement for the export of UK pigs’ trotters to China has been raised at the highest levels. The UK Agriculture, Food and Drink Counsellor, based in Beijing, continues to meet with the Chinese authorities to raise the importance of this agreement and press for expeditious consideration of the UK application to allow exports of UK pigs’ trotters to commence as soon as possible.

We are working with the UK pork industry to collate the necessary data and information required by the Certification and Accreditation Administration of the People's Republic of China, which will be submitted by the end of June. The UK Agriculture, Food and Drink Counsellor, based in Beijing, has met with the Chinese authorities to raise the importance of this agreement and press for expeditious consideration of the UK application to allow exports of UK pigs’ trotters to commence as soon as possible.

We are working with the UK pork industry to collate the necessary data and information required by the Certification and Accreditation Administration of the People's Republic of China, which will be submitted by the end of June. The UK Agriculture, Food and Drink Counsellor, based in Beijing, has met with the Chinese authorities to raise the importance of this agreement and press for expeditious consideration of the UK application to allow exports of UK pigs’ trotters to commence as soon as possible.

Defra has submitted detailed information required by the Chinese authorities, which they are reviewing. The UK Agriculture, Food and Drink Counsellor, based in Beijing, has met with the Chinese authorities to raise the importance of this agreement and we continue to press for expeditious consideration of the UK application to allow exports of UK pigs’ trotters to commence as soon as possible.

Developing low carbon strategic partnerships with China at UK and EU levels is an important element of the British Government's strategy for working with China on Climate change and low carbon. We support the EU-China Partnership on Climate Change which was established in 2005 and provides a high-level political framework for collaboration; and the UK has memoranda of understanding with China on climate change and low-carbon co-operation which frame our bilateral relations in these areas. These partnerships cover a range of policy areas and we will be working with Chinese colleagues to build on the existing collaboration in the future. This could include work on standards.

The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), last visited China on 14 to 15 July 2010 (and also Hong Kong on 16 to 17 January 2011), Brazil on 18 to 19 January 2012, and the USA on 24 to 29 September 2012.

As Minister responsible for our relations with Brazil, I visited Brazil on 27 to 28 September 2012. I also attended the UN General Assembly in New York on 28 to 29 September.

Developing low-carbon strategic partnerships with China at UK and EU levels is an important element of the Government's strategy for working with China on climate change and low-carbon. The UK supports the EU-China Partnership on climate change which was established in 2005 and provides a high-level political framework for collaboration: and the UK has memoranda of understanding with China on climate change and low-carbon cooperation which frame our bilateral relations in these areas. These partnerships cover a range of policy areas and we will be working with Chinese colleagues to build on the existing collaboration in the future, this could include work on standards.

China has seen continued strong economic growth and a continued rise in its emissions. However, it has been taking action to meet its pledge made to the UNFCCC to reduce its carbon intensity by 40-45% on 2005 levels by 2020.

China's 12th five year plan (FYP) includes targets to reduce energy intensity by 16% and carbon intensity by 17% alongside a target to increase non-fossil fuel use to 11.4% by 2015 and 15% in 2020. It is making progress towards these targets. In addition, earlier this year, the National Energy Administration announced targets for renewable power generation under the 12th FYP, including an increase in China's renewable energy power capacity by 167GW by 2015 (an increase of 68% from 2010) at a cost of 1.8 trillion RMB (£180 billion).

Last month, the Chinese Government announced targets for the development of nuclear power, aiming for an installed nuclear capacity of 40GW in operation and 20GW under construction by 2015, up from the current 12.5GW in operation and 27.6GW under construction. The Nuclear Development plan also sets new targets for 2020: 58GW of nuclear installed capacity, with another 30GW under construction.

At regional level the 5 year plan identified a set of “Low-carbon pilot provinces” which cover eight major cities and five provinces with over 350 million people. The low carbon pilots are acting as a testing ground for a range of policies that will help both deliver the targets in the current 5 year plan and inform the next one. In particular, three of the low carbon pilot zones are piloting regional emissions trading systems, with the one in Guangdong officially launched in September this year.

I have visited the US twice in 2012, most recently to New York in September to represent the UK at the Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate. This followed leading a low carbon business delegation to Houston, San Antonio and Atlanta in May 2012, while also visiting New York and Washington DC.

The previous Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, the right hon. Member for Eastleigh (Chris Huhne), and I last visited South Africa for the UN climate change conference in Durban at the end of 2011. We also visited Mexico for the conference in Cancun a year earlier.

The previous Secretary of State last visited China in September 2011 for the Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum.

There have been no DECC ministerial visits to Brazil under this Government.

The Department is yet to finalise its plans for 2013 travel, but there are no plans to visit these countries in the remainder of 2012. Lists of all previous ministerial visits are available on the DECC website at:

http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/accesstoinform/registers/overseas/overseas.aspx