A forum on green industry cooperation between China, the European Union (EU), and Africa highlighted chances for working together on technology and sustainable practices, especially using bamboo as a plastic alternative.
The event, co-hosted on Thursday by the Chinese Mission to the EU and the International Bamboo and Rattan Organization, aimed to promote efforts for ecological sustainability.
In his speech, Cai Run, head of the Chinese Mission to the EU, discussed China's achievements in green and low-carbon development, highlighting improvements in energy structure and increased forest coverage. He described China as a production hub, Europe as a consumer market, and Africa as a resource developer, pointing out the potential for collaboration among these regions.
Erik Solheim, co-chair of the Europe-Asia Center, mentioned that China makes up two-thirds of new green energy projects worldwide and possesses 60 percent of green energy technologies, including solar, wind, and electric vehicle batteries. Solheim, who previously served as a UN under-secretary-general, also noted that bamboo could serve as a sustainable alternative to plastic, helping to reduce global plastic waste.
Former EU Transport Commissioner Violeta Bulc commended China's commitment to bamboo research and innovation."China's collaboration with African countries has led to the creation of the China-Africa Bamboo Center," Bulc remarked, emphasizing the potential for joint efforts to promote global green development.
McArios Akanbeanab Akabong, acting head of Mission at the Embassy of Ghana in Belgium, Luxembourg, and the EU, highlighted China's support in establishing a National Bamboo and Rattan Centre in Ghana, facilitating technological transfers that have significantly advanced the bamboo industry in the country.
Michael Braungart, a professor of sustainable development at Leuphana University in Germany, pointed to bamboo's potential for air purification and its ability to mitigate microplastic pollution, encouraging further collaboration between Europe and China in environmental protection and economic development.
The "Bamboo as a Substitute for Plastic" initiative, which was launched by China in collaboration with the International Bamboo and Rattan Organization, aims to decrease plastic pollution and support ecological conservation.
Bd-pratidin English/Afia
