BRI has a green thumb vis-a-vis development

Green development needed to achieve modernization

Green is the color of the Belt and Road Initiative, and achieving sustainability one of its core goals. In his speech to the third Belt and Road Forum on Wednesday, President Xi emphasized the significance of green development, and proposed measures to realize green development. This shows China remains committed to deepening cooperation to realize high-quality Belt and Road development.

Given people's aspirations and goals today, intensifying the fight against climate change and achieving carbon neutrality, according to the Paris Agreement, have become an important part of the long-term development plan of many countries.

The high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative is expected to provide developing countries with green and low-carbon development solutions so they do not repeat the old development pattern of "pollution for development first, and treatment later". Incidentally, the developed countries used fossil fuel-powered development to realize industrialization and modernization.

But the Belt and Road Initiative not only resorts to eco-friendly development practices, but also urges other countries to play a creative role in building green infrastructure, promoting green energy and green transportation, and developing green finance.

China has been cooperating with many countries in the fields of solar power, wind power, hydropower and thermal energy. In fact, the proportion of renewable energy in the energy projects China is helping build or develop in other Belt and Road countries keeps increasing. And the advantages China enjoys in renewable energy production and technology means it can offer solutions to their energy problems and help them fight climate change.

China has also been promoting green development through programs such as the Belt and Road Initiative International Green Development Coalition, the Green Silk Road Envoys Program, and the Belt and Road South-South Cooperation Initiative on Climate Change. As such, China and other Belt and Road countries will explore novel ways to realize green development and ensure the harmonious coexistence of humans and nature.

Xie Laihui, executive director of the Department of BRI Studies at the National Institute of International Strategy, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences

The views don't necessarily reflect those of China Daily.