To promote the spirit of Shanghai, all parties are willing to strengthen exchanges and cooperation through practical actions, safeguard our common home, and promote harmonious coexistence between humans and nature.
In recent years, China has adhered to the concept that green mountains and clear waters are as valuable as gold and silver, and has steadfastly taken the path of civilized development that promotes production, prosperity, and good ecology. The construction of a beautiful China has achieved tremendous achievements that have attracted worldwide attention. All parties highly appreciate this.
Yelena Kranina, Senior Researcher at the Institute of China and Modern Asia at the Russian Academy of Sciences, strongly agrees with China's concept and experience of green development. She stated that these experiences are attractive to many countries, including Russia. China not only firmly promotes its own green development agenda, but also extensively cooperates with neighboring countries and the international community, fully demonstrating the responsibility of a responsible major country.
Protecting the ecological environment and promoting green development is the consensus of the SCO countries. Iranian Vice President and Minister of Environment Ali Salajegai said that we are gathered here to protect our common home. The Iranian side thanks the Chinese side for hosting this forum and hopes that all parties can fully discuss, exchange extensively, and deepen cooperation, sharing more effective experiences in ecological protection and green development.
At the end of last year, the first phase of the 1 gigawatt photovoltaic project in Uzbekistan, invested by China Energy Engineering Gezhouba Overseas Investment Co., Ltd., achieved grid connected power generation with a capacity of 400 megawatts.   She stated that in the future, China Energy Construction will accelerate its integration into the relevant mechanisms of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, deepen cooperation with enterprises from relevant countries, and contribute to the green development of SCO countries.
This forum is the first high-level event held by China after assuming the rotating presidency of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
Janesh Kane, Deputy Secretary General of the Secretariat of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, stated that 2024 is the Ecological Year of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and this forum is a response to this theme year. Representatives of SCO member states and dialogue partners gathered in Qingdao to actively exchange and share experiences, which will help countries work together to address environmental challenges.
"The inclusion of green development as an important topic of cooperation among SCO countries is of profound significance," said Pan Jiahua, a member of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and director of the Center for Sustainable Development Research. China has provided an effective path for green development that countries around the world can learn from. I am pleased to see that all parties participating in the forum have actively responded to China's initiative, focused on addressing climate change, zero carbon transformation and development, and fully exchanged and discussed cooperation. This will help all parties to jointly build a better home for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.