An international conference aimed at strengthening global consensus on green development and injecting new momentum into the high-quality growth of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) was held in Beijing on Saturday.
Organized by China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) and hosted by the Belt and Road International Green Development Coalition (BRIGC) together with the Foreign Environmental Cooperation Center, the event brought together senior officials and experts from around the world.
Diplomats from the embassies of Honduras, Guyana, and Mongolia in China highly praised the BRI’s contribution to the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, noting that the initiative demonstrates China and participating countries’ shared commitment to building a Green Silk Road.
Ministerial and senior officials from Cambodia, the Maldives, and Pakistan also expressed hopes for closer cooperation with China. Cambodian Environment Minister Eang Sophalleth emphasized that “green development is an inevitable path toward common prosperity,” expressing appreciation for China’s replicable green development experience.
Experts noted that in the future, China and other countries are expected to strengthen joint efforts to combat global environmental challenges and advance green BRI cooperation through dialogues on climate change, biodiversity loss, and plastic pollution.
BRIGC President Zhao Yingmin described the organization as an innovative platform for international dialogue in emerging sectors, highlighting mechanisms such as the Belt and Road Green Innovation Conference, the Green Development Investment and Financing Partnership, and the Green and Low-Carbon Expert Network.
Zhao stated that BRIGC will continue working with global partners to optimize green investment, financing, and technology collaboration mechanisms, and to promote the adoption of green technologies, standards, and projects across participating countries.
During the conference, a report jointly compiled by BRIGC and the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (UN SDSN) was released, showcasing green development practices in ASEAN countries, Africa, and Latin America.
In a video speech, UN SDSN President Jeffrey Sachs described the report as “a must-read,” emphasizing that China, through South-South cooperation, provides strong support for developing countries’ low-carbon transition thanks to its leading role in green technology and energy transformation.
To further deepen green cooperation, BRIGC signed cooperative agreements with the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and the Pakistan-China Institute to promote the implementation of green projects and support Pakistan’s green transition in the fields of energy and sustainable transportation.