In a significant step toward global ecological cooperation, China and the World Bank have launched the Global Center for Ecological Systems and Transitions in Beijing. The center aims to promote ecological restoration and share valuable experiences with countries around the world.
At the launch event, China's Minister of Finance, Lan Fo'an, highlighted the importance of the new center. "This center represents the latest achievement in more than 40 years of cooperation between China and the World Bank," Lan said. "I look forward to the center promoting a more institutionalized and systematic cooperation, creating a new benchmark for our partnership in the new era."
World Bank President Ajay Banga praised China's efforts in ecosystem restoration. "China has undertaken ambitious programs to restore ecosystems and landscapes," he noted. "These efforts demonstrate that creating jobs does not have to come at the expense of a livable planet."
The center will serve as a platform for countries to share international experiences and promote the exchange of good practices in ecological restoration. Valerie Hickey, Global Director for Environment at the World Bank, remarked, "China shows that issues like drought, desertification, deforestation, or land degradation are not inevitable—they are reversible."
Beate Trankmann, United Nations Development Programme Resident Representative for China, emphasized the importance of such partnerships. "It's only natural to see China partnering with multilateral institutions like the UN or the World Bank. These types of knowledge centers are the future of cooperation," she said.
The launch of the center marks a new chapter in ecological collaboration, offering hope and solutions for sustainable development worldwide.
Reference(s):
China-World Bank ecological cooperation center launched in Beijing
cgtn.com
