Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, October 18

Xinhua News Agency reporter Gao Jing

Develop and implement small but beautiful projects such as the "African Light Belt" to help solve the lighting problem of more than 50,000 households in Africa without electricity; implement the Green Silk Road Envoy Program and the "Belt and Road" South-South Cooperation Plan to Address Climate Change; sign cooperation and assistance agreements on climate change with 42 co-building countries, and implement more than 70 assistance projects of various types...

At present, green is becoming a distinctive background for the joint construction of the "Belt and Road", and the "circle of friends" for green "Belt and Road" international cooperation is getting bigger and bigger.

This reporter learned this from the “Belt and Road” Green Innovation Conference held in Beijing on the 18th.

Sun Jinlong, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, introduced at the meeting that in recent years, China has created a successful practice for the largest developing country to achieve rapid economic and social development while effectively protecting the ecological environment. China not only continues to promote its own ecological civilization, but also actively participates in and leads global environmental governance, becoming a staunch activist and important contributor to the world's green development.

Since the joint construction of the "Belt and Road" initiative was proposed more than ten years ago, China has always adhered to the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind, supported the green transformation of developing countries with pragmatic actions, and contributed Chinese wisdom and Chinese strength to global sustainable development. Participants believed that the green Belt and Road construction not only helped the co-building countries enhance the endogenous motivation and capabilities of green development, but also provided an important carrier for developing countries to explore new paths for coordinated development and protection.

Yang Sopal, Minister of Environment of Cambodia, said that Cambodia is currently increasing environmental protection measures, especially focusing on preventing and controlling plastic pollution. He said that in the future, Cambodia will accelerate the construction of green infrastructure and technological innovation, hoping to introduce China's waste-to-energy technology to turn waste into treasure.

Zhang Jun, Secretary-General of the Boao Forum for Asia, said that according to research, some Asian countries such as China, Japan and South Korea have outstanding innovation performance in clean energy, electric vehicles and other fields, providing strong support for achieving carbon neutrality and green transformation.

In view of the current widespread problem of huge green financing gap, Zhang Jun suggested increasing green investment to make up for the green financing gap. Promote the reform of the international financial system and achieve substantial progress as soon as possible to ensure that developed countries fulfill their commitments such as climate finance. At the same time, all countries must improve fiscal policies, optimize tax incentives, and mobilize more social capital to invest in green energy, green manufacturing and other fields.

According to Moncada, Ambassador of Honduras to China, developing countries need to obtain affordable and fair financing support and continuously improve their capabilities for green transformation. Previously, the Ministry of Energy of Honduras, PowerChina and the International Alliance for Green Development under the Belt and Road Initiative signed a memorandum of cooperation. The three parties will strengthen cooperation in areas such as power planning assessment and renewable energy project development under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, and support Honduras in formulating an overall energy plan to achieve green, low-carbon and sustainable development.

"Achieving green development cannot be achieved alone, but requires strong partnerships and shared technological innovation." Enkhbold, Mongolia's ambassador to China, said that Mongolia is facing the threats of desertification and land degradation. China and Mongolia are cooperating to build the China-Mongolia Desertification Prevention and Control Cooperation Center and providing financial, technical and other support. It is hoped that all parties will jointly promote green innovation, deepen international cooperation, and build a greener, more resilient, and more harmonious future.

"We are willing to join hands with all parties to promote the implementation of global governance initiatives, adhere to the principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, promote high-quality green Belt and Road construction, and help co-building countries accelerate the realization of green and low-carbon transformation goals." Sun Jinlong suggested that we should gather synergy for development, improve the support and guarantee system, and continue to improve the level of environmental governance of the "Belt and Road". At the same time, investment and financing channels will be expanded to enhance the sustainable development vitality of the green “One Belt, One Road” initiative. Promote the construction of a more open, transparent, and inclusive green investment and financing system, form a green development-oriented development model and investment and financing mechanism, continuously enrich financial products and tools, and create a new multi-level and diversified green investment and financing pattern.

It is reported that this conference, with the theme of “Gathering Financing to Drive Green Development”, was hosted by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment and hosted by the “Belt and Road” Green Development International Alliance and the Foreign Cooperation and Exchange Center of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment. Nearly 300 people from 39 countries attended the conference.