The 2015 Macao International Environmental Co-operation Forum and Exhibition (2015MIECF) takes place for three consecutive days starting from today. This year’s MIECF is held under the theme “Green Economy – Solutions for Clean Air”. Representatives from green enterprises and environmental industry, experts and academics from around the world joined in Macao to discuss current hot environmental issues. MIECF continues its role as a green platform, providing the opportunities and environment for promoting collaboration between operators of the environmental industry around the world and create business openings.

The opening ceremony took place at 10:00 am this morning at the Venetian Macao-Resort-Hotel. Officiating guests included the Chief Executive of Macao SAR, Mr Chui Sai On, Deputy Director General of the Liaison Office of the Central People´s government in the Macao SAR, Mr. Yao Jin, Deputy Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People´s Republic of China in Macao SAR, Mr Pan Yundong, Vice Minister of Ministry of Science and Technology of the People´s Republic of China, Dr Zhang Laiwu, Vice-Governor of the People´s Government of Jiangxi Province, Mr Zheng Wei Wen, Executive Vice-Governor of the People´s Government of Hunan Province, Mr Chen Zhaoxiong, Vice-Governor of the People´s Government of Guangdong Province, Mr Xu Ruisheng, Vice President of the People´s Government of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Mr Tang Renjian, Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People´s Consultative Conference of Yunnan Province, Mr Wang Chengcai,  Secretary for the Environment of Hong Kong SAR, Mr Wong Kam-Sing, Former Prime Minister of Norway, chairedthe World Commission on the Environmental and Development (the “Brundtland Commission”), Special Envoy on Climate Change of the United Nations and Former Director-General of the World Health Organisation, Dr Gro Harlem Brundtland, Director General of the Department of Science, Technology and Standards, Ministry of Environmental Protection of the People´s Republic of China, Mr Xiong Yuehui, representing the Minister of Environmental Protection of the People´s Republic of China, Mr. Chen Jining, the Deputy Director General of the Department of Resource Conservation and Environmental Protection, National Development and Reform Commission of the People´s Republic of China, Ms Ma Rong, representing the Chairman of National Development and Reform Commission of the People´s Republic of China, Mr Xu Shaoshi, Secretary for Economy and Finance of Macao SAR, Mr Leong Vai Tac, Secretary for Transport and Public Works of Macao SAR, Mr. Raimundo Arrais do Rosário, Deputy Secretary General of the People´s Government of Sichuan Province, Mr He Luzhang, Deputy Secretary General of the People´s Government of Guizhou Province, Mr Wu Qiang, Director-General of the Department of Ecology and Environment Protection of Hainan Province, Mr Deng Xiaogang and the Deputy Director-General of the Environmental Protection Department of Fujian Province, Mr Yu Pinghe.

Speaking at the Opening Ceremony, the Chief Executive of Macao SAR, Mr Chui Sai On said that the government will strengthen urban air pollution control, and develop relevant measures to improve air quality, to be in line with the carbon dioxide reduction targets of our country. Mr Chui said that the government will continue to improve the quality of life of the citizens, with the objective of developing Macao as a World Tourism and Leisure Centre as well as a trade and economic co-operation service platform between China and the Portuguese-speakingcountries. Mr Chui added that the Macao SAR Government will continue to deepen and promote regional environmental co-operation, especially collaboration with the Pan-PRD provinces/regions and co-operation between China and the Portuguese-speaking countries. In order to meet with the demands of the new era of environmental protection, the Government will nurture the service-oriented environmental industry, and through the building of a region with clean air, promote the construction of a low-carbon and liveable city.

MIECF continues to offer international forums, exhibition, business matching and networking opportunities to the participants, to develop fully its role as a green platform designed  to promote the development of the environmental industry and environmentally-friendly technologies. The Vice Minister of Ministry of Science and Technology of the People´s Republic of China, Dr Zhang Laiwu, Director General of Department of Science, Technology and Standards, Ministry of Environmental Protection of the People´s Republic of China, Mr Xiong Yuehui, and the Deputy Director-General of the Department of Resource Conservation and Environmental Protection, National Development and Reform Commission of the People´s Republic of China, Ms Ma Rong, gave keynote speeches at the Opening Ceremony. 

Vice Minister Dr Zhang Laiwu said that future of the environmental co-operation between Mainland China and Macao is promising, and that a lot of works have been done in the area of science and technology co-operation. He said that co-operation projects have been launched in the field of environmental protection, that such co-operations have already been institutionalized. He stressed that results have been achieved, particularly in the areas of transportation, environmental pollution, reduction of carbon emission, and electric car, and that the next step would be to carry out more works in the field of environmental protection. Mechanisms to maintain the said co-operation are already in place, he said.

Mr. Xiong Yuehui pointed out that there will be growth in the environmental industry within the next five years and that it will become a new growth area for the economy. He said that the government will invest significantly in technical engineering and in energy efficient projects, to promote the development of the environmental industry.

 In her keynote address, Ms. Ma Rong said that it is necessary to accelerate and promote environmentally friendly construction, as environmental protection will be a new norm in China´s development process and a new pillar of the economy. She stressed that, back in 2013, the State Council has already made plans for the development of the environmental industry, and the country will take low-carbon development as a basis to turn the environmental industry into new pillar for the country´s industry.

Dr Gro Harlem Brundtland, Former Prime Minister of Norway, who chaired the World Commission on the Environment and Development, the “Brundtland Commission”, Special Envoy on Climate Change of the United Nations and Former Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) delivered her keynote speech during the Opening Ceremony. At the Green Forum tomorrow (27 March), experts and academics from different countries and regions will continue to express their insight on various environmental issues. Through the Green Matching, Green Exhibition and Green Networking, exhibitors and buyers will promote business co-operation and jointly create business opportunities.