Experts in the field of green development from countries such as Indonesia and Pakistan, heads of institutions including the Hong Kong Quality Assurance Agency and the China Quality Certification Center, and professionals in the field of ecology and environment in Chongqing gathered together to discuss and offer suggestions on leveraging collective strengths to advance green and low-carbon development under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

Need for collaboration to advance green and low-carbon development of BRI

Green development is fundamental to the BRI, injecting vibrant energy into the high-quality Belt and Road cooperation. As the first international environmental protection association under the BRI framework, the BRIGC has gathered the collective strength of over 170 partner organizations, becoming an important multilateral cooperation platform in the field of green development of the BRI. Over the years, it has actively promoted policy dialogues, technical exchanges, capacity building, and joint research.

Cui Dandan, Secretary-General of the BRIGC, stated that advancing green and low-carbon development of the BRI requires joint efforts from all parties. The BRIGC will continue to act as a bridge, aligning with the development needs of the Belt and Road partner countries, relying on initiatives such as green development investment and financing partnerships, a network of green and low-carbon experts, and the BRI Eco-Environmental Talent Exchange Program. It will build international exchange and cooperation platforms for local governments and enterprises, guiding businesses and financial institutions to engage in more green investment and construction practices, and helping green projects take root in partner countries to share the fruits of green development.

The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a flagship project of the BRI, exemplified the integration of green development principles, consistently promoting green growth and sustainable development in Pakistan. Mustafa Hyder Sayed, Executive Director of the Pakistan-China Institute, highlighted the BRI as a highly effective cooperation mechanism with businesses playing a crucial role. He encouraged businesses worldwide to initiate small-scale green demonstration projects to gain experience and advance the green and low-carbon transition.

Chongqing's unique advantages in green and low-carbon international cooperation

Chongqing proposed to build a pilot zone for a Beautiful China Initiative, taking the lead in the large-scale development and protection of the western region, and serving as a model for ecological priority and green development in the Yangtze River Economic Belt, as well as a pioneer in high-quality development.

The establishment of the Leading Group for the Construction of a Beautiful Chongqing, the issuance of the "Action Plan for the Construction of a Beautiful Chongqing", the integrated promotion of the "Nine Treatments" environmental governance, the continuous implementation of the "1+2+6+N" policy system in the "dual carbon" field, along with the innovative construction of the "Carbon Benefit Pass" platform… Liu Qin, Deputy Director of the Chongqing Municipal Bureau of Ecology and Environment, introduced that in recent years, Chongqing has laid a solid foundation for green and low-carbon development through high-level protection, comprehensively constructing green and low-carbon development systems and mechanisms, promoting the formation of green and low-carbon production and lifestyle, and accelerating the creation of a model for green and low-carbon development of the manufacturing industry in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River.

The BRI is not only a path to economic prosperity but also a path to green development. Zhou Yi, Deputy Director of the Foreign Affairs Office of the Chongqing Municipal People's Government, noted that Chongqing has unique advantages in participating in green Silk Road international cooperation in terms of strategic position, diverse scenarios for implementation, pilot demonstration projects, scientific research talents, and open connectivity. Chongqing is building itself into a central international exchange hub in the central and western regions, connecting ASEAN and Eurasia and the world, with a broad prospect for international cooperation in green and low-carbon development.

According to Cai Hongbo, General Manager of Chongqing Credit Information Center, the “Carbon Benefit Pass” platform has already registered over 3.5 million individual users and has cumulatively established nearly 20 low-carbon application scenarios, with the platform's construction showing initial success. Li Xingwang, General Manager of the Phoenix Smart Factory of Seres Automobile, introduced that as a representative enterprise of green and low-carbon development in the Chongqing new energy vehicle industry, Seres has integrated green concepts into the entire lifecycle of its products through technological innovation, ecological integration, and corporate governance, continuously promoting the low-carbon development of the automotive industry. Another Chongqing-based company, Sanfeng Environment, shared its achievements and experience in waste-to-energy incineration as a form of green electricity and resource recycling, arousing great interest among the participants.

Leveraging platforms to gather resources for practical green and low-carbon cooperation

Cui Dandan expressed her expectation of future cooperation with Chongqing in the field of green and low-carbon development under the BRI, relying on high-level events such as the Belt and Road Green Innovation Conference, the China Corner Side Event of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and the "Green Silk Road Journey" international communication activities, to share the story of the construction of a Beautiful Chongqing with the international community.

Liu Jiang, Director of the China Quality Certification Center, stated that he hoped to promote the pilot implementation of green and low-carbon development in the Chengdu-Chongqing region through various means such as technical exchanges and project cooperation, making it a model for green development under the BRI.

Chen Peichang, CEO of the Hong Kong Quality Assurance Agency, said that the agency was willing to work with financial institutions to design innovative green financial products tailored to the needs of the Chinese mainland, attract domestic and foreign investors to participate in more green projects, and support enterprises in making precise decisions during green transformation.

International experts at the dialogue believed that China's practical experience in green and low-carbon development was worthy of reference. Fabby Tumiwa, Executive Director of the Indonesia Infrastructure Reform Institute, said that China's active response to climate change and pursuit of green and low-carbon development were not merely theoretical but were demonstrably implemented through concrete projects. Mustafa Hyder Sayed also echoed this sentiment, citing Chongqing's green and low-carbon development practices as a compelling example for other countries and encouraging businesses in various countries to learn from China's experience to promote international cooperation on green projects.

(Contributed by Wang Songtao and Zhou Kai)

Media Contact
Company Name: Chongqing Municipal Bureau of Ecology and Environment
Contact Person: Wang Songtao
Email: Send Email
City: Chongqing
Country: China
Website: https://sthjj.cq.gov.cn/