The opening ceremony of the 2016 Macao International Environmental Co-operation Forum and Exhibition (2016MIECF) took place today (31 March), at the Venetian Macao-Resort-Hotel. The three-day event will run until April 2.  This year’s MIECF, under the theme “Green Economy – Opportunities for Waste Management”, has attracted a range of companies and organisations from the environmental protection sector, including experts and academics from world-renowned institutions to participate in the event in Macao and discuss about issues related to environmental protection. The MIECF event helps to strengthen Macao’s role as a co-operation and networking platform for environmental industry in the Pan-Pearl River Delta (PPRD) region, EU, as well as between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries and promote the development of green economy in the region.

The 2016 MIECF is hosted by the Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region; with the National Development and Reform Commission, Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Environmental Protection of the People’s Republic of China as Special Supporting Organisations, the provincial and regional governments in the PPRD region as Co-organisers, and the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) and the Environmental Protection Bureau are the Host Co-ordinators.

The opening ceremony of 2016 MIECF took place at 10:00am this morning.  Officiating guests included the Chief Executive of the Macao SAR  Chui Sai On; Deputy Director General of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government  in the Macao SAR Yao Jian; Deputy Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the Macao SAR Pan Yundong; Vice-Minister of Ministry of Science and Technology of the People’s Republic of China, Xu Nanping; Executive Vice-Governor of the People’s Government of Hunan Province Chen Xiangqun; Vice-Governor of the People’s  Government of Guangdong Province Xu Ruisheng; Vice President of the People’s Government of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Huang Shiyong; Vice-Governor of the People’s  Government of Sichuan Province Yang Xingping;  Vice-Governor of the People’s Government of Yunnan Province Liu Huiyan;  Secretary for the Environment of the Hong Kong SAR, Wong Kam-sing; Deputy Director General of the Department of Resource Conservation and Environmental Protection, National Development and Reform Commission of the People’s Republic of China Lu Wenbin – representing Xu Shaoshi,  Chairman of National Development and Reform Commission of the People’s Republic of China, the pioneer in Circular Economy and inventor of the “Cradle to Cradle” and “Performance Economy” concepts, Founder-Director,  ‘The Product-Life Institute, Geneva’, and full member of the Club of Rome, Professor Dr. h.c. Walter R. Stahel; Deputy Director General of the General Office, Ministry of Environmental Protection of the People’s Republic of China, Chen Yanping – representing Chen Jining, the Minister of Environmental Protection of the People’s Republic of China; Secretary for Economy and Finance of the Macao SAR  Leong Vai Tac; Secretary for Transport and Public Works of the Macao SAR Raimundo Arrais do Rosário; Deputy Secretary General of the People’s Government of Jiangxi Province Xie Maolin; Director-General of the Environmental Protection Department of Fujian Province Zhu Hua; Director-General of the Department of Ecology and Environmental Protection of Hainan Province, Deng Xiaogang and the Deputy Director-General of the Environmental Protection Department of Guizhou Province Xu Heng.

The Policy objective of developing Macao into a Green city with low carbon emission city

In his opening speech, Macao’s Chief Executive, Chui Sai On, said the Government has already started the formulation of Macao’s first five-year plan, aiming to develop Macao as a World Tourism and Leisure Centre and fully utilise its role as a commercial and trade co-operation service platform between China and the Portuguese-speaking Countries. Such measures are in line with the vision of transforming Macao into a city favourable for living, tourism, business, travel and recreation, with the objective of achieving significant performance in environmental protection and promote Macao’s sustainable development.

Mr Chui said that environmental protection was a major guiding principle in the Government’s policy objectives. To build a green city with low carbon emission, promotes the sustainable development of the environmental industry, and maintains a balance between environmental protection and development, the SAR Government actively promoting the principle of  “Reduce waste at source; and separate for recycling”, to support the growth of local green industries. In order to further enhance the waste management strategy, the Government is working on the “Macao Solid Waste Resource Management Plan” which will serve as a foundation for Macao’s development as an environmentally friendly city with low carbon emission, said the Chief Executive.

The Vice Minister of Science and Technology of the People’s Republic of China, Xu Nanping; Deputy Director General of the Department of Resource Conservation and Environmental Protection, National Development and Reform Commission of the People’s Republic of China Lu Wenbin – representing Xu Shaoshi,  Chairman of National Development and Reform Commission of the People’s Republic of China, and Deputy Director General of the General Office, Ministry of Environmental Protection of the People’s Republic of China, Chen Yanping – representing Chen Jining, the Minister of Environmental Protection of the People’s Republic of China, gave speeches during the opening ceremony of the 2016 MIECF.

In line with the “Guidelines on Deepening Regional Co-operation in the Pan-Pearl River Delta Region” promulgated by the State Council, to strengthen PPRD regional co-operation and serve as a core area for deepened collaboration between Mainland, Hong Kong and Macao, this year’s MIECF has again received strong support from the governments  and authorities in the PPRD region.  Apart from the organisation of high-level officials delegations to participate in 2016 MIECF, various events will be held on 1 April, including the “Pan Pearl River Delta Region Session – Solid Waste Management Policies and Technology in the Pan-Pearl River Delta Region” as well as  the “PPRD Environmental Technology Exchange” which was held for the first time this year.  The events were in line with the planning of the PPRD region and help promote its technological transfer and co-operation with other countries and regions.

A total of 76 negotiation sessions held on the first day

The organisers have prepared a range of activities for the three-day event, including: the Green Showcase; Green Matching; seminars and presentations; Green Business Networking Session; Green Building Industry Networking Session; and the session introducing the “PPRD Environmental Technology Exchange”.  A total of 76 negotiation sessions were scheduled on 31 March, including 33 sessions for representatives from the “9+2” Pan-Pearl River Delta provinces and regions. The organisers also scheduled seven exchange sessions for professionals of the environmental protection sector. A total of 32 agreements were signed  during the Green Business Networking Cocktail Reception and Signing Ceremony, involving environmental information exchange, technology co-operation, product management and agent for environmental products. These agreements involved companies from countries and regions such as Mainland China, the United States, Brazil, Dubai, Germany, Japan, Mozambique, Portugal, Hong Kong and Macao. A total of 14 co-operation agreements were signed involving parties from the “9+2” Pan-Pearl River Delta provinces and regions, including from the provinces of Guangdong and Sichuan, Hong Kong and Macao.

The Green Showcase, Green Forum, Green Matching, seminars and presentations will also be held tomorrow (1 April). A special session with Prof. Dr. h.c. Walter R. Stahel on “Enhancing Waste Management through Internet Plus” is also scheduled for tomorrow. This session will discuss the next path of development for more efficient waste management in businesses and society.

Opening Ceremony of the 2016 MIECF