Hong Kong expands 'Green Silk Road' training for Belt and Road nations
Hong Kong's Environmental Protection Department co-organised a 'Green Silk Road' training programme with Hunan province for officials from eight Belt and Road countries, including site visits to advanced environmental facilities in Hong Kong and Changsha.
Hong Kong's Environmental Protection Department (EPD) has expanded its 'Green Silk Road' training programme, adding the Hunan Provincial Department of Ecology and Environment as a co-organiser alongside the EPD and a centre. The programme aims to enhance environmental technology capacity in Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) countries and promote international environmental exchange and cooperation under the BRI framework.
Eight BRI nations—Laos, Cambodia, the Philippines, Bangladesh, Seychelles, Cuba, the Maldives and Kyrgyzstan—sent senior government officials and experienced environmental professionals to attend the training. They participated in the 'Green Silk Road' programme from 28 to 31 October in Changsha, Hunan province, and also attended the International Environmental Expo in Hong Kong.
On 30 October, the delegation visited a wastewater treatment plant in Changsha to learn about advanced technologies, observed integrated garden waste shredding technology, and toured environmental enterprises to see the latest environmental technologies and achievements from mainland China. On 29 October, they visited an environmental company to see a 'black light laboratory'. Dr Thomas Su, Director of the EPD, travelled to Changsha on 29 October to attend the training and delivered a welcome speech at a training session of the Centre for Water and Environmental Excellence of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Earlier, during their stay in Hong Kong, the delegation conducted a series of activities. On 27 October, they visited T·PARK, the EPD's sludge treatment facility that uses advanced incineration technology to convert waste into energy in a self-sufficient manner. They also visited the International Mediation Institute to learn about Hong Kong's dispute resolution services and its unique advantages in facilitating international cooperation and trade for mutual benefit.
On 26 October, the delegation attended an experience-sharing session on 'Environmental Enterprises Going Global', which brought together government representatives, environmental enterprises and industry leaders to share successful experiences in expanding overseas markets, focusing on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and BRI markets. Multiple enterprises from Hong Kong, mainland China and overseas discussed how to leverage Hong Kong's unique advantages and opportunities to develop overseas markets.
An EPD spokesman said the department would continue to actively promote green BRI international cooperation, facilitate environmental technology and experience exchange, and work together to achieve high-quality green and sustainable development.
