Macao: Green innovation is essential for the sustainable development of all countries, and digital connectivity, one of the key drivers for social changes becomes important infrastructure of the future, experts said at the opening ceremony of a forum in Macao.
They made the remarks on Thursday morning at the 15th International Infrastructure Investment and Construction Forum, which is taking place from June 19 to 21, with “Green Innovative Digital Connectivity” as this year’s theme.
The event seeks to bring China’s wisdom to global infrastructure co-operation and help China and countries and regions involved in the Belt and Road Initiative make new progress in joint infrastructure construction, according to Fang Qiuchen, chairman of the China International Contractors Association, which jointly organized the event with the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM).
Guo Tingting, China’s vice-minister of commerce, said that, under the guidance of the Belt and Road Initiative, China proposed together promoting “hard connectivity” of infrastructure, “soft connectivity” of rules and standards, and “heart-to-heart connectivity” with the people of all countries, contributing its wisdom to the international infrastructure cooperation.
According to her, Chinese companies have invested more than $350 billion in infrastructure, completed contracted projects in more than 200 countries and regions with a turnover of $2.4 trillion, and built a large number of low-carbon, environmentally friendly, digitally intelligent and interconnected projects that benefit the people’s livelihood for host countries.
She said it is important to continuously enhance the new level of connectivity and seize opportunities of green development. As the global energy structure accelerates its transformation, the concept of jointly addressing climate change and promoting green and low-carbon economic development is deeply rooted in the hearts of the people.
To promote cooperation in green infrastructure, the Ministry of Commerce has signed memorandums of understanding on investment cooperation in the field of green economy with about 30 countries.
Onesimus Kipchumba Murkomen, cabinet secretary of the Ministry of Roads and Transport, Kenya, noted that the theme of this forum, “Green Innovative Digital Connectivity,” is timely and builds on the outcomes of the 3rd Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. According to him, Kenyan President William Ruto is a staunch advocate for the transformative power of infrastructure in driving economic and social progress.
He shared Kenya’s journey in developing sustainable and modern infrastructure. Kenya’s transport network connectivity, therefore, not only serves the nation but also provides critical maritime access and transit route to the land linked neighboring countries, including Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, the DRC, South Sudan, and Ethiopia, he said.
The region’s economic growth, propelled by a young, educated workforce and progressive development policies, has resulted in an increased demand for transport solutions. “Our challenge is to meet this demand in an efficient, affordable, and environmentally sustainable manner,” he said.
He noted that embracing digital connectivity and adoption of modern information technology in the planning, development and management of these multimodal transport corridors will result in smart transportation.
As Kenya finalizes its e-mobility policy and regulations, they look forward to extensive partnerships with China, a leader in this field, he added.
U Myo Thant, Myanmar’s union minister of the Ministry of Construction, said that the “Green Innovative Digital Connectivity” serves as the guiding principle and pivotal focus for the infrastructure development and investment in the nations.
“Myanmar has incorporated ecological protection, increasing renewable energy generation, increasing green investment, protecting biodiversity and improving waste management into its long-term strategy,” he said, citing both implementations under “Green Innovation” for the transport sector and examples under green innovation in the urban planning and housing sector in Myanmar.
The availability of meaningful and affordable connectivity should be a top policy priority and a common agenda to address, he added. “If the digital divide is not fully addressed, long-term growth would be delayed and the existing gaps between and within countries would be widened.”
In keynote speeches session, João Baptista Borges, minister of energy and water in Angola, noted that the forum brings together business people from Angola and China, in search of common paths for the social and economic development of our two countries and peoples, with a long tradition of friendship and cooperation.
It also has a broad significance in China-Angola relations, occurring at a very particular moment in the development of their ties, marked by the recent visit of the President of the Republic of Angola to China on March 15, which culminated in the signing of several bilateral agreements. Just under a year ago, the Republic of Angola celebrated the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations with China, he noted.
The minister from Angola added that China is an important strategic partner of Angola, having a very significant participation in the different areas of the country’s economic activity, namely in the construction of dams, water supply systems, roads, ports, airports, railways, technological centres, schools, etc., highlighting the ongoing project to build the Caculo Cabaça Hydroelectric Plant for the production of about 9,000 MW by 2027.
China’s technical and technological capacity is one of the important areas that has provided many advantages and benefits to African countries, in particular, in the field of infrastructure and connectivity, such as China’s BRI, which has promoted the industrialisation of the African continent, with a relevant impact on the achievement of the African 2063 agenda for sustainable development, he noted.
Jean Jacques Bouya, minister of State from the Ministry of Land Planning, Infrastructure and Road Maintenance of Republic of Congo, said that economic growth cannot be achieved without high-quality digital connectivity. Congo has made developing digital infrastructure one of its national priorities for many years, and China remains our partner in successfully meeting this challenge, he said.
“Economic growth cannot occur without high-quality digital connectivity, thus we work with China in this respect,” he said, adding Chinese financial institutions’ support is critical to promoting development projects in line with the Belt and Road Initiative.
Aziz Abdukhakimov, minister of ecology, environmental protection and climate Change of Uzbekistan, said that the pressing environmental challenges and the rapid technological advancements of this era compel people to “rethink, reshape, and reinvent our approach to infrastructure development”.
“As we gather here under the theme of ‘Green Innovative Digital Connectivity’, we stand at the crossroads of opportunity and responsibility,” he said.
Abdukhakimov added that in recent years, Uzbekistan has embarked on an ambitious journey to transform its infrastructure landscape.
Zhang Shaohui, vice-president of the Export-Import Bank of China said that as global concerns about environmental protection and sustainability increase, governments and businesses are taking steps to reduce their negative impact on the environment. In this context, green finance has developed rapidly, and become an important measure to cope with climate change, and achieve the “double carbon” goal.
As a policy bank committed to supporting China’s foreign trade and investment development and international economic cooperation, the Export-Import Bank of China has established a green credit strategy and proposed ESG management requirements, continuously enriched green financial products and services, strengthened international cooperation in the field of green finance, contributing to jointly building a green Belt and Road.
Lou Qiliang, chairman and president of the CRSC Corporation Limited, Wang Bin, president of the Power Construction Corporation of China, Ma Yunshuang, president of the CRRC Corporation Limited also spoke at the event. The panel was moderated by Li Yongming, deputy general manager of the China State Construction Engineering Corporation.
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