Hosted by the Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region, the “2019 Macao International Environmental Co-operation Forum & Exhibition” (2019MIECF) will be held for three days from today (March 28), under the theme of “Promoting Ecological Civilization and Green Development”. In line with the “Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area” released by the Central Government, the 2019MIECF aims to promote exchange and co-operation on environmental protection among international “governments, industries, universities, research institutes, users, and financial sectors”, by virtue of the strength of Macao as a platform between China and Portuguese-speaking countries and the global commitment to developing a green and sustainable world economy.

The Opening Ceremony of the 2019MIECF was held at 10:00am today. In her welcome speech, Ms Chan Hoi Fan, Acting Chief Executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region, noted that building an ecological civilisation is the only path to sustainable development, adding that the Macao SAR Government attaches great importance to the protection of the ecological environment while promoting Macao’s economic diversification. The city is striving to push forward sustainable development by highlighting harmony between humankind and nature, constructing a city of ecological civilisation in its administration, and improving its urban environment, she said. Via the MIECF, an exchange platform for the environmental industry worldwide, Macao aims to enhance the network building and collaboration in the environmental sectors worldwide and from different regions, in particular the Pan-Pearl River Delta region and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, whereby it pushes forward the development of the ecological civilisation.

Mr Wang Zhigang, Minister of Science and Technology of the People’s Republic of China, said that China has achieved ecological and environmental improvement and green economic growth simultaneously, with strong support for science and technology innovation. Meanwhile, working actively to promote  exchange and co-operation between the country and Macao in the field of science and technology has produced fruitful results for the co-operating parties for many years. In the future, the state will intensify the co-operation with Macao on environment-related science and technology, strengthen its support for universities and research institutes in Macao, provide support for Macao to carry out national major science and technology projects and to build platforms for science and technology innovation, with the aim of developing Macao into an internationally-renowned hotspot for science and technology innovation.

Mr Wen Hua, Deputy Inspector of the Department of Resources Conservation and Environmental Protection under the National Development and Reform Commission of the People’s Republic of China, who was representing He Lifeng, Chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission of the People’s Republic of China, remarked that based on the principle of “giving priority to ecological development and green development”, which is specified in the “Framework Agreement on Deepening Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Co-operation in the Development of the Bay Area”, China provides strong support for Macao to develop itself into an paragon of high-quality green development by leveraging its unique strengths and playing a greater role in green industries.

Mr Zhang Bo, Director General of the Department of Water Ecology and Environment, Ministry of Ecology and Environment of the People’s Republic of China, who was representing Li Ganjie, Minister of Ecology and Environment of the People’s Republic of China, said that through the optimisation of policies and measures, China has reduced energy consumption, improved the ecological environment, and comprehensively strengthened the prevention and treatment of environmental pollution, with outstanding achievements made. Mainland and Macao are closely connected in terms of development. The Central Government supports Macao’s integration into the larger picture of national development. As one of the four core cities in the Greater Bay Area, Macao plays a unique role in helping the Greater Bay Area develop into a first-class bay area that is suitable for living and travelling. As a green channel, the MIECF plays an active role in promoting international green exchange and co-operation. It will continue to support Macao fully in making greater contribution to environmental protection in the future.

Mr Li Li, Inspector of the Energy Conservation and Application Department of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of the People’s Republic of China, said that China is constructing a green system that is market-oriented, promoting the green development of industries, developing public platforms for green manufacturing, providing support for training and overseas exchanges, and improving the awareness of enterprises in improving the environment. The Central Government supports Macao in its efforts to seize opportunities. Professionals of science and technology and finance domains in Macao could strengthen green manufacturing industries in both Macao and Mainland China through co-operation, in order to promote the high-quality development of industries and make new ground for innovation.

After the Opening Ceremony, the keynote speaker of the 2019MIECF, Mr Michael Liebreich, Founder of New Energy Finance, Former Chairman of the Advisory Board at Bloomberg New Energy Finance and Senior Contributor, and Chairman and CEO of Liebreich Associates, shared his opinion on how green economy and industrial upgrading could promote urban development in a sustainable way. The “Green Business Co-operation Day” was also available on the same day, offering activities such as the green forum and the business exchange. The forum went under the theme of “New Opportunities in the Eco Bay Area — Creating Green Energy Cities” for attendees to discuss the development of green energy and green finance in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and Portuguese-speaking countries.

The 2019MIECF is organised by the Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region, supported by the National Development and Reform Commission of the People’s Republic of China, the Ministry of Science and Technology of the People’s Republic of China, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of the People’s Republic of China and the Ministry of Ecology and Environment of the People’s Republic of China, co-organized by the governments of the Pan-Pearl River Delta Region, and co-ordinated by the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) and the Environmental Protection Bureau (DSPA). Into its 12th anniversary, the 2019MIECF continues to play a role as an international green platform.

The following guests were invited as the officiating guests of the Opening Ceremony: Mr Yao Jian, Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao SAR; Mr Ahmed Ziyan Abdul Rahman, Deputy Minister of Environment, Maldives; Mr Zhang Guangjun, Vice-Governor of the People’s Government of Guangdong Province; Ms Yan Zhichan, Member of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China Guangxi Committee and Vice Governor of Guangxi; Mr Zhang Zhaomin, Vice Chairman of the Fujian CPC Provincial Committee; Mr Leong Vai Tac, Secretary for Economy and Finance of Macao SAR Government; Mr Raimundo Arrais do Rosário, Secretary for Transport and Public Works of Macao SAR; Mr Wong Kam-Sing, Secretary for the Environment of Hong Kong SAR; Counsellor Zhang Jian, Representative and the Head of International Organizations and Legal Affairs of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the Macao SAR; Mr João Carlos Soares, Director General of Environment at Secretary of State for the Environment, Ministry of Coordinating for Economic Affairs of Timor-Leste; Mr Zeng Jing, Deputy Secretary-General of the People’s Government of Beijing Municipality; Mr Deng Xiaogang, Director-General of the Ecological Environment Department of Hainan Province; Mr Li Xianxin, Deputy Secretary-General of the People’s Government of Hunan Province; Mr Dai Yongbo, Deputy Secretary-General of the People’s Government of Sichuan Province; Mr Cao Yonglin, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Ecology and Environment of Jiangxi Province; Mr Meng Yuguang, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Ecology and Environment of Guizhou Province; and Mr Yang Chunming, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Ecology and Environment of Yunnan Province.

“2019 Macao International Environmental Co-operation Forum & Exhibition” (2019MIECF) opens today (March 28)

Ms Chan Hoi Fan, Acting Chief Executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region, delivers her welcome speech at the Opening Ceremony