Green approach attracts Europeans

China is keen on promoting climate protection in its plans for development along the new Silk Road, officials say

European business representatives and academics expressed confidence that China will offer green industrial technologies to engage countries along Belt and Road Initiative routes to create better connectivity in Asia, Europe and Africa.

The green approach was discussed at the China's New Silk Road Initiative conference on March 17 in Paris, jointly organized by China Daily and Neoma Business School in France.

More than 150 participants attended the event including representatives from Confucius institutes, and Chinese and European business representatives from Bank of China, Chinese carmaker BYD, Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei and French power major EDF.

Zhang Haiyan, director of Neoma Business School-Confucius Institute for Business, says there has been rising interest in economic and industrial development between Asia and Europe since the announcement of the Belt and Road Initiative in 2013.

But concerns have also been expressed about environmental feasibility and consequences, which have been more perceived as key issues in the implementation of the new Silk Road initiative, especially in the context of rising worries about climate change.

"This is the background why we cooperate with China Daily to organize this event. But from the discussions we held, we found that China is keen on promoting green cooperation and realizing green development with other countries along the Silk Road," Zhang says.

Domestically, China has set stricter energy and environmental standards for the coming five years.

Tu Jianjun, China program manager of the International Energy Agency, says China's carbon intensity cut has been accelerated during the 2016-2020 period compared with 2011-15 period, which indicated the determination of the Chinese government to curb pollution. He says that by 2040 China may have the largest renewable energy industry globally.

"China's serious energy sector reform is a prerequisite to tap China's full potential in clean-energy development. The country's transition to a more diversified and a much less energy-intensive model for growth reshapes the global energy market and helps the global climate agenda," Tu says.

"We welcome the new approach," says Serge Degallaix, general director of Foundation Prospective and Innovation. "We are in the situation where things are changing but going in the right direction, and we think there are new fields of opportunity for business between the two countries.

"We are in favor of China's investment because we need capital. From the French side there is still fear of Chinese investors taking everything from the French, so we have built some institutions jointly held by the two sides. It's a way to converge interests, not only in favor of one side," he said.

Contact the writers through fujing@chinadaily.com.cn