BRI offers path to green development

We held themed activities such as the International High-level Dialogue for BRI Environmental Protection, and conducted exchanges and cooperation with Pakistan, the UK and the Czech Republic on nuclear safety monitoring. Within the frameworks of China-ASEAN, Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Lancang-Mekong River, etc. we held over 20 forums and seminars every year with over 800 participants from BRI countries.

We launched the Green Silk Road Envoys program and started the South-South Cooperation Training for Tackling Climate Change, which supported the visits of more than 300 representatives from BRI participating countries to China for exchanges. We organized environmental protection organizations in Laos and Cambodia for exchanges and build garbage disposal and wastewater treatment facilities in Namngaen Village and Luang Namtha province of Laos. We set up the BRI Environment Technology Exchange and Transfer Center in Shenzhen and China-ASEAN Demonstration Centers for Environmental Protection Technology and Industrial Cooperation and Exchanges in Yixing, Jiangsu province and Wuzhou, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region to facilitate cooperation. We also work with the UN Industrial Development Organization on Industrial Park Demonstration Projects of Green Silk Road.

Greater integration with BRI

As a road to green development, the BRI calls for common and proactive efforts of all parties concerned. In this regard, we put forward the following proposals:

First, a green BRI needs collaboration. Only through that will we achieve shared benefits. The BRI and the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development share common goals, so we will build consensus, provide more green public goods to BRI participating countries and regions and facilitate the implementation of the UN's 2030 agenda.

Second, a green BRI calls for greater synergy. Governments should shoulder their duties of leading and guiding, companies should earnestly fulfill their corporate environmental responsibilities, social organizations and the public should take an active part and help with monitoring, trade associations should play the role of coordination, and financial institutions should become responsible firewalls. Through such joint efforts, we will see to it that BRI environmental cooperation really delivers.

Third, a green BRI calls for precise and targeted efforts. We need enhanced coordination between a green BRI, the UN SDGs and plans of participating countries, including environmental policy, law and regulation coordination. We should discuss formulating financing guides and technology standards for green BRI projects and add to the green elements in our cooperation on infrastructure, and trade in goods and financial services.

The BRI has played and will keep playing a positive role in promoting green development in BRI participating countries and regions. It is our hope that these countries make concerted efforts and share the same vision on the road of green development to better share the results of a green BRI and move forward toward a community with a shared future for mankind and a clean and beautiful world.

The author is Minister of the Chinese Ministry of Ecology and Environment.

The author contributed this article to China Watch exclusively. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of China Watch.

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