China mulls setting up Belt and Road green development fund

BEIJING — China should explore the establishment of a fund to support green development along the Belt and Road, a China-proposed trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa, according to an official plan.

Efforts will also be made to set up special funds for resource exploitation and environmental protection, said the plan for environmental cooperation on the Belt and Road released by the Ministry of Environmental Protection.

These funds should be used to support environmental infrastructure, capacity building and green industry development in Belt and Road countries, according to the plan.

It set the goals of working to achieve the environmental goals of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and enhancing environmental cooperation in an all-round manner by 2030.

To realize these goals, China will strengthen policy communication with the Belt and Road countries, share its green development concept and practices, build an environmental cooperation platform, and promote exchanges between think tanks and environmental organizations.

A big data service platform on environmental protection and an environmental monitoring system will be established, according to the plan.