The "Belt and Road" Green Innovation Conference (2025), hosted by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China and co-organized by the "Belt and Road" Green Development International Alliance and the Foreign Cooperation and Exchange Center of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, was held in Beijing on the 18th. With the theme of "Gathering Financing to Drive Green Development", the conference aims to build a global consensus on green development, promote the deep integration of green investment and financing and green transformation, and inject new green impetus into the high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative.

Green road, shared destiny

Green and low-carbon development is not a matter for one country or region, but a global undertaking related to the common destiny of mankind and the sustainable future of the earth. Sun Jinlong, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, delivered a keynote speech at the conference and pointed out that green and low-carbon transformation is the trend of the times and the only way to promote global sustainable development.

Sun Jinlong said that since the joint construction of the "Belt and Road" initiative was proposed more than ten years ago, China has always upheld the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind, supported the green transformation of developing countries with pragmatic actions, accelerated the construction of a systematic and complete green "Belt and Road" policy system, continued to establish a closer green development partnership, continued to deepen pragmatic cooperation in green and low-carbon fields, helped to improve the environmental governance capabilities of jointly built countries, and contributed Chinese wisdom and Chinese power to global sustainable development. China is 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, and continue to promote the construction of the green "Belt and Road" with high quality. Green is becoming the distinctive background of the joint construction of the "Belt and Road". Further strengthen dialogue and exchanges around climate change, biodiversity loss, plastic pollution, etc., jointly respond to global environmental crises, and create new results of green Belt and Road cooperation.

At the meeting, ministerial and other senior officials from Cambodia, Maldives, Pakistan and other countries shared their experiences or difficulties in green development and expressed their expectations for strengthening green cooperation with China. Yang Sopal, Minister of Environment of Cambodia, believes that green development is an inevitable choice to achieve common prosperity. He thanked China for providing replicable green development experience, and said that Cambodia will deepen transformation in areas such as green infrastructure, carbon credit mechanisms, and talent training.

The picture shows the scene of the “Belt and Road” Green Innovation Conference (2025) (photo provided by the organizer)

Value resonance, common paths

Zhao Yingmin, chairman of the Belt and Road International Alliance for Green Development, pointed out that the current global climate governance has entered a critical stage, and the importance and urgency of developing countries to achieve green and low-carbon transformation and development have become highlighted. The Belt and Road Green Development International Alliance, as an innovation platform for international exchanges and cooperation in emerging fields, has formed a "one mechanism and three platforms" cooperation framework including the flagship dialogue mechanism "One Belt and One Road" Green Innovation Conference, as well as the green development investment and financing partnership, the green and low-carbon expert network, and the "Belt and Road" ecological and environmental protection big data service platform. In the future, it will continue to work with all parties to improve green investment, financing and technical cooperation mechanisms, promote the implementation of green technologies, standards and projects in partner countries, assist the sustainable development of the global South, and jointly build a clean and beautiful world.

Zhang Jun, Secretary-General of the Boao Forum for Asia, and Xin Baoan, Chairman of the Global Energy Internet Development and Cooperation Organization, both expressed their willingness to expand cooperation with the alliance and relevant parties to jointly promote the green, open, and inclusive development of the “Belt and Road”.

At the meeting, envoys from Honduras, Guyana, Mongolia and other countries stationed in China spoke highly of the positive contribution of the joint construction of the "Belt and Road" to the implementation of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, demonstrating China's responsibility and responsibility in building a green Silk Road with all parties.

For Honduras, which has vast forests, forests are an important pillar supporting national development and sustainable livelihoods. Salvador Moncada, Ambassador of Honduras to China, said in his speech that low-carbon transformation faces financing difficulties and emphasized that green transformation must achieve a win-win situation for investors and communities. The two-year cooperation between Hong Kong and China has helped the country establish an investment structure that takes into account both profitability and sustainable development, proving the economic feasibility of green development.

In the special dialogue session, representatives from Chinese and foreign organizations such as the Export-Import Bank of China, China Export & Credit Insurance Corporation, CICC, China Quality Certification Center, C40 Cities Climate Leadership Alliance, China Communications Construction Company, African Climate Foundation, and the ecological environment departments of Guangdong and Guangxi conducted pragmatic discussions on the two major themes of green finance and green infrastructure, providing practical solutions for jointly building the country's green transformation.

Integration of ideas and actions

The conference was fruitful and pragmatic cooperation took new steps. The meeting released the report "One Belt, One Road" Green Development Outlook 2025 - The Global South Joins Hands to Create a Green and Low-Carbon Future. The report was jointly compiled by the International Alliance for Green Development along the Belt and Road and the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network, and systematically reviewed green development practices in ASEAN, Africa, Latin America and other regions. Jeffrey Sachs, chairman of the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network and professor at Columbia University, spoke highly of the report as a "must-read" in a video speech, affirming China's global leadership in green technology and energy transition, and appreciating its strong support for the low-carbon transition of developing countries through South-South cooperation.

In order to promote green cooperation to be deeper and more practical, the International Alliance for Green Development along the Belt and Road signed cooperation documents with the United Nations Office for Project Services and the Pakistan-China Institute respectively. The former will deepen strategic collaboration in areas such as project cooperation, knowledge sharing, technology sharing and joint publicity, and promote the implementation of green projects; the latter will focus on the green and low-carbon development of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor to assist the green energy transformation and sustainable development of transportation in Pakistan and the entire region.

Jorge Moreira da Silva, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Director of the United Nations Office for Project Services, said that in the face of severe climate and development challenges, the international community must move forward together. Close cooperation between China and United Nations agencies will inject new vitality into global green development.

Mustafa, Director of the Pakistan-China Institute, highly appreciates China's contribution to global green governance and looks forward to promoting the construction of Pakistan's carbon market and realizing the common vision of green and sustainable development through learning exchanges, technology transfer and renewable energy investment.

The conference attracted nearly 300 representatives from government departments, international organizations, financial institutions, enterprises and academia from 39 countries and regions. The guests at the meeting agreed that the conference has injected new momentum into the "Belt and Road" green cooperation, and said that they will use this conference as a new starting point to enhance mutual trust, promote innovation, carry out more pragmatic cooperation, and jointly contribute to building a beautiful homeland where man and nature coexist harmoniously.