Online system encourages environmentalism

Increasing information such as the latest news, laws and regulations, and environmental measures regarding Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states has been made available on an online system, a senior Chinese official said.

The online system is part of a comprehensive platform proposed by China in late 2013 to provide an information-sharing channel for member countries, observers and dialogue partners of SCO to improve regional environments and realize sustainable development.

Addressing a symposium on Thursday and Friday themed Clean Water, Clean World, Liu Chunlong, deputy director of the International Environmental Cooperation Center, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, said the development of the system is almost finished.

Under the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Environmental Information Sharing Platform, 14 seminars and training programs have been organized since 2014, drawing more than 200 participants from SCO member states, he said.

Liu suggested that SCO countries hold symposiums and conduct joint research to deepen their understanding of each other, which could help lay foundations for future environmental cooperation.

Xiao Xuezhi, deputy director of international cooperation, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, suggested SCO countries better identify priorities of their environmental cooperation based on each country's needs, before drafting concrete cooperation plans and putting them into practice.

He also said China welcomes government bodies, research institutes and NGOs to participate in a green development coalition under the Belt and Road Initiative, which was launched at the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in April.