The China-Belarus Industrial Park in the outskirts of Minsk, capital of Belarus. (PHOTO: XINHUA)

By ZHONG Jianli

China is expected to advance the green development of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), strengthen international cooperation with relevant countries, and make green a defining feature of the initiative, according to a guideline issued recently by the National Development and Reform Commission and three other departments.

The country aims to deepen international cooperation on ecological protection and climate change under the BRI by 2025, and form a green development pattern for the initiative by 2030, said the guideline.

In recent years, China has already made great efforts in promoting the green development of the BRI. It has signed more than 50 documents with countries and international organizations along the BRI to deepen cooperation on ecological protection, renewable energy, and transformation of traditional industries.

The new policy proposes to strengthen cooperation among BRI countries in nine aspects, including infrastructure connectivity, energy, finance, science and technology, and climate change.

Regarding green energy cooperation, China encourages enterprises involved in solar and wind power to present best practices of green energy application in other countries. Joint research and training programs on high-efficiency, low-cost renewable energy, advanced nuclear power, smart grid, hydrogen energy, and energy storage should be carried out, said the policy.

In terms of reinforcing green sci-tech cooperation, the guideline calls for more efforts to make breakthroughs in development and application of green technologies, give full play to the role of the Belt and Road Science, Technology and Innovation Cooperation Action Plan, and support joint cooperation in building networks and bases for developing green technologies.

To respond to climate change, BRI affiliated countries should strengthen dialogues and cooperation with each other, and promote the establishment of a fair, reasonable and win-win global climate governance system, the guideline suggested, noting that China will push forward the construction of low-carbon demonstration projects overseas, and provide aid for relevant countries to enhance their abilities to cope with climate change.

Green investment and financing cooperation have yielded positive results. The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and BRICS New Development Bank initiated by China, are both committed to providing financial support for developing low-carbon and environmentally friendly projects. In future, such efforts will be further strengthened.

In addition, to implement projects abroad, Chinese enterprises should raise awareness of environmental risks, conduct assessments to identify potential environmental impacts, and take effective measures to protect local environment, according to the guideline.