Since the promulgation of Agenda 21 by the United Nations in 1992, nations around the world have taken actions to promote sustainable development. In August 2002, the United Nations has held the World Summit for Sustainable Development to further explore next steps to enhance sustainable development on a global basis. The international community and governments of countries have expressed strong commitment and sustained interest in driving for sustainable development. To achieve coordinated development between humankind and nature and to meet growing needs for socio-economic development in the 21st century, extensive cooperation among countries in information sharing and exchange on environmental friendly resolutions plays an important and effective role in the global effort in pursuing sustainable development.

Starting from 2003, in the frame of the Sino-Italian Cooperation Program for Environmental Protection, the Italian Ministry for the Environment and Territory (IMET) has organized an Advanced Training Program on Environmental Management and Sustainable Development addressed to Chinese senior governmental officials, professors, researchers, managers and engineers.

The core aim of the Program is to foster and further stimulate concrete actions on sustainable development in the People's Republic of China. During the training courses, trainees are provided with both theoretical issues and case studies related to European and Italian experiences on environmental protection. The exchange of knowledge and experience on best available technologies and practices are among the most relevant opportunities offered by this cooperation activity.

The Training Program is generally organized as a set of two-week courses devoted to a pool of specific environmental issues. Such issues cover a broad spectrum of topics in the field of Urban Sustainable Development, Eco-Building Design, Water Management, Waste Management, Renewable Energies, Pollution Control, Sustainable Agriculture, Environmental Policy, Clean Development Mechanism and Ecological Industrial Development.

Courses are held both in China and in Italy. They involve Chinese lecturers and Italian experts. Beijing is the seat of the Chinese sessions, whereas Italian sessions are staged mainly in Rome, Venice and Turin. The headquarter of the Training Program is located at the venues of Venice International University (VIU), on the island of San Servolo (Venice).

The Program is supported by IMET in cooperation with VIU, Agroinnova-University of Turin, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), China's Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST), China's State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA) and Beijing Municipal Government.