In the morning of August 19, 2023, at 9:00 a.m.(Beijing Time), the international academic conference "2023 'The Belt and Road' Green Sustainable Development and Technology Innovation Forum" was solemnly opened in Harbin, China. This forum is under the guidance of the International Cooperation Department of the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology and Communist Youth League Committee of Heilongjiang Province, which is organized by Northeast Forestry University. It is co-sponsored by nearly ten well-known domestic and international institutions, including University of Cambridge, Tsinghua University, Southeast University, Chongqing University, China Agricultural University, Central University of Finance and Economics, Institute of Urban Systems Engineering in Beijing Academy of Science and Technology, Harbin University of Science and Technology, and Heilongjiang Provincial Association of Young Scientists and Technologists, e.g.

The forum attracted more than 50 young leaders from China, and nearly ten countries along “the Belt and Road”, including Turkey, South Africa, Nepal, Montenegro, India, Saudi Arabia and Ethiopia. 

Six outstanding papers presented at the forum were awarded scholarships by Newham College, University of Cambridge. Two international students won the Best Paper Award. Luo Ying, as the Dean of the School of International Education and Exchanges in Northeast Forestry University, red out the list of winners. Song Jihong, as the Deputy Secretary of the CPC NEFU Committee, issued the certificates to the winners.

Dr. Liu Jie, as the chairman of this forum, is a high-level talent from Heilongjiang Province and the director of Master of Management Science and Engineering Programme at Northeast Forestry University. She highlighted that this year is the tenth anniversary of “the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)”. Over the past decade, the BRI has played a crucial role in deepening policy communication among nations, promoting global connectivity, and reshaping the international trade landscape. Dr. Liu Jie emphasized the importance of President Xi Jinping's vision of building a "Green Silk Road" in advancing the high-quality development of “The Belt and Road” and fostering the concept of a human community with a shared future. The BRI is not only about economic prosperity but also involves green development. Many countries along “The Belt and Road” have substantial demands for economic growth and industrial transformation, along with the pressure of harmonizing development and environmental protection. China, as an advocate of green development, is integrating the concept of ecological civilization and green development into international cooperation within the countries along “The Belt and Road”. China is committed to expanding new areas of cooperation, including health, green, digital, and innovation, and promoting advanced experiences in environmental governance to these countries. Simultaneously, China strengthens the requirements for ecological and environmental protection in the context of the BRI. These proactive measures will form a green development pattern where ecological protection and international cooperation complement each other, and inject the new momentum for green, low-carbon, sustainable, and high-quality development into the countries along “The Belt and Road”.

Professor Helen X.H. Bao, as the co-chair of this forum, is a professor in the Department of Land Economics, and a fellow of Land Economics in Newnham College at University of Cambridge. She pointed out that under the current international pattern of increasing economic uncertainty and investment risks, the BRI focuses on global cooperation, providing bridges among the countries to achieve win-win cooperation and common development. This has profound significance for countering global systemic risks. The UK has consistently played the roles of "leader", "pioneer," and "advocate" in participating in the BRI. By aligning “Industry Strategic 2050 in UK ” with "Intelligent Manufacturing 2050 in China ", a strategic collaboration has been achieved, fostering smart production to accelerate economic growth and effectively optimizing the economic and technological capabilities of both parties and the countries along the Belt and Road. Professor Helen X.H. Bao emphasized the researchers from the University of Cambridge and Northeast Forestry University will enhance the deep-going and all-round communication and cooperation in the future, to promote the establishment of a international research alliance for “The Belt and Road Green and Sustainable Development”, motivate the universities, think tanks, and research institutions in the countries along “The Belt and Road” to collectively build a platform for research and cooperation, and embark on a new journey of the high-quality international cooperation for building "The Green Belt and Road".

This forum focuses on "Green Economy", “Digital Economy”, "Green Construction", "Resilient Cities", "Technological Innovation", "Common Development", and "Collaborative Cooperation", and other global hot topics, and aims to closely integrate the green development with the technological innovation, sharing China's latest cutting-edge research and successful practical experiences in green sustainable development and technological innovation. This forum provides "Chinese experience" to support the countries along “The Belt and Road” to accelerate the green and low-carbon transformation, and contributes "Chinese wisdom and models" to promote the green, low-carbon, and sustainable development of the countries along “The Belt and Road”.

（Outlook New Era）