On September 25-30, the China Ecological Civilization Research and Promotion Association (CECRPA) joined eight environmental protection social organizations, enterprises and institutions, including the China Environmental Protection Federation, the China-Japan Friendship Environmental Protection Center, the Environmental Planning Institute and the Environmental and Economic Policy Research Center, went to Laos and Cambodia to carry out environmental policy and technology talks and exchanges for deepening the green “Belt and Road” initiative. This exchange is the second one in half a year, since the CECRPA organized another group to go to Laos and Cambodia for civil activities in March.
As reported by 中国社会组织动态, a WeChat account run by the Management of Social Organizations Office of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, the Chinese organizations held an experience-sharing meeting with seven environmental NGOs from Laos and ten from Cambodia. The Chinese experts introduced China’s environmental protection policies and regulations, “ecological civilization construction” achievements, climate change measures, and sewage treatment technologies, and took questions.
The two sides then exchanged discussions on their own environmental protection livelihood projects. The participants agreed that in order to deepen the construction of the green “Belt and Road” initiative, the two sides should explore and establish a long-term cooperation mechanism and promote the initiative by carrying out research and investigation, launching pilot projects, and establishing local offices so as to facilitate high-quality development.
In Cambodia, the CECRPA and the Jiangsu Provincial Ecological Civilization Research and Promotion Association and the Nanjing Jiangning District Ecological Civilization Promotion Association donated 30,000 yuan worth of material, including walkie-talkies, flashlights and raincoats, stationery and other goods to the Cambodian Greening Agency and the Cambodia-China Friendship Association to help them carry out forest protection and environmental protection publicity and education. They also exchanged consultations on further cooperation and exploration for the establishment of overseas offices in Cambodia.
The delegation also visited local Chinese enterprises. The two sides agreed that Chinese social organizations should actively “go out” and play a bridge role, increase trust and dispel doubts, and promote popular support. The report claims that the exchange activities deepened the friendship between Chinese, Cambodian and Laotian environmental protection organizations, broadened their ideas regarding future cooperation, and laid the foundation for deeper and more practical long-term cooperation.
