Nation to spur green projects in BRI areas

China will encourage the construction of green infrastructure in countries and regions participating in the Belt and Road Initiative, to foster sustainable and high-quality development of the global economy, officials and experts said on Tuesday.

Qian Keming, vice-minister of commerce, said the nation will focus on promoting green and low-carbon energy in markets along the Belt and Road and developing efficient, clean and renewable energies such as gas, solar, wind power, hydropower and nuclear power.

"China has already built many green infrastructure projects with economies along the Belt and Road," Qian said at the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2021 on Monday.

Enterprises will be encouraged to adopt high standards in planning, design and construction of infrastructure projects overseas, advance green construction and adopt new environment-friendly technologies, equipment and materials. In addition, the green development concept will be integrated into the whole process of outbound investment and overseas cooperation, Qian said.

As a next step, China will also come out with steps to promote sustainability in developing countries through the Belt and Road Initiative, said Qian.

Zhou Xiaochuan, former governor of the People's Bank of China, the central bank, said green development is essential for the sustainable development of infrastructure and industrial investment in countries and regions along the Belt and Road.

In the last few years, China and economies participating in the Belt and Road Initiative have been actively carrying out cooperation and promoting the implementation of a number of green, low-carbon and sustainable clean energy projects. For instance, the photovoltaic power plant project in Ethiopia helped more than 2,000 households and nearly 6,000 people to gain access to clean power.

Looking ahead, global business leaders believe that international cooperation along the Belt and Road will strengthen further and create more growth opportunities for China and rest of the world.

"China is the source of growth for us," said Juergen Schmitz, chief executive officer of Ergo China, a unit of German insurance firm Ergo. "We are happy that China has maintained strong growth momentum despite the economic turmoil and even more excited to participate in this market and grow together with China."

Wei Jiang, president of Bayer Group Greater China, said openness and cooperation are the only ways to promote the steady development of human society in a world facing enormous challenges and opportunities.

Zheng Yiran contributed to this story.