Following the successful joint organisation of the first "Green Silk Road" – International Training Program on Environmental Protection Technology and Sustainable Development ("Green Silk Road" Training Program) with the Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences (RCEES) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) last year, the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) continues to deepen its co-operation with the RCEES this year by organising the second "Green Silk Road" Training Program. High-level government officials and experienced environmental protection professionals from Belt and Road (B&R) countries were invited to participate, promoting exchanges and co-operation on sustainable green development.
In addition to being co-organised by the EPD and the RCEES, this year's "Green Silk Road" Training Program welcomed the Department of Ecology and Environment of Hunan Province as a joint organiser. The training program aims to enhance environmental technology capacities in B&R countries and foster international environmental protection exchanges and co-operation under the B&R Initiative.
High-level government officials and experienced environmental protection professionals from eight B&R countries (including Laos, Cambodia, the Philippines, Bangladesh, the Seychelles, Cuba, the Maldives, and Kyrgyzstan) who came to Hong Kong to attend the Eco Expo Asia were invited to participate in the "Green Silk Road" Training Program held in Changsha, Hunan, from October 28 to 31.
The delegation from B&R countries conducted field visits in Changsha, Hunan, on October 30 and visited a sewage treatment plant to learn about the advanced technologies involved, experiencing integrated garden waste shredding technology and visiting green companies to understand the latest technologies and achievements in the environmental protection sector of the Mainland. On October 29, the delegation also visited a green company to inspect a lights-out lab. The Director of Environmental Protection, Dr Samuel Chui, also attended the "Green Silk Road" Training Program in Changsha, Hunan, on October 29 and delivered welcome remarks at the training session of the CAS Centre of Excellence for Water and Environment held in the morning.
Apart from the visit to Changsha, Hunan, the delegation also participated in a series of activities during their stay in Hong Kong earlier on. They visited the EPD's sludge treatment facility, T·PARK, on October 27 to learn about Hong Kong's first self-sufficient, waste-to-energy, sludge treatment facility that applies advanced incineration technology. The delegation also visited the International Organization for Mediation to understand Hong Kong's services and unique advantages in resolving international disputes, as well as how to leverage Hong Kong to promote international co-operation and commercial and trade activities to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes.
The delegation also attended the Experience Sharing Forum on Promoting Environmental Business in Oversees Market on October 26. The event brought together government representatives, environmental enterprises, and industry leaders to share successful experiences in expanding into overseas markets, with a key focus on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and B&R markets. A number of local, Mainland, and overseas enterprises shared insights on how to make good use of Hong Kong's unique advantages and opportunities to expand into overseas markets and realise the opportunities for going global.
A spokesperson for the EPD said that the Department will continue to actively promote green B&R international co-operation, facilitate the exchanges of environmental protection technologies and experiences, and work together to achieve high-quality green and sustainable development.
