21st Eco Expo Asia held to reinforce Hong Kong's position as green technology and green finance hub (with photos)
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Speaking at the welcome ceremony today (October 27), the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin‑wan, said that the Government has formulated the First Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (2026-2030) and has introduced four binding environmental targets, which set the bar for promoting green transition, energy reform, as well as making Hong Kong a cleaner and more enjoyable city. He pointed out that the Belt and Road Green Innovation Conference this year was held outside the Chinese Mainland for the first time, serving to connect policy with innovation, technology with investment and expertise with opportunity. Mr Tse said that under "one country, two systems", Hong Kong enjoys close connections with the Chinese Mainland and international markets, leveraging its professional services, financial system, common law system and environmental management experience to act as the "super connector" for international collaboration in green transformation.
The Minister of Ecology and Environment, Mr Huang Runqiu, was also invited to attend the welcome ceremony. The Director of Environmental Protection, Dr Samuel Chui, introduced at the ceremony the Government's latest achievements in and aspirations for jointly building a green Belt and Road. He pointed out that high-quality development of the green Belt and Road is advanced through high-level collaboration platforms, talent nurturing, environmental-related exhibitions and deepening of research and technical co-operation. He added that the Government has established the Hong Kong Green Technology Innovation Centre, which drives green transformation and innovation and implements green Belt and Road co-operation projects. The Centre plans to launch the Green Technology Bridgehead Programme in 2027 to help transfer green solutions to Belt and Road countries.
Also presented at the welcome ceremony were the third series of "Enchanting China", jointly produced by the Environment and Ecology Bureau (EEB) and the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) in collaboration with the Center for Environmental Education and Communications of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, as well as highlights from the "Beautiful Hong Kong Series" produced by the EEB. The series covered four themes including "Beautiful Living", "Beautiful Ecology", "Beautiful Trails" and "Beautiful Climate" to showcase the achievements and distinctive features of environmental protection and ecological conservation of the country and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
During the Government Session of the Eco Asia Conference on the same day, Deputy Director General of the Department of Energy Conservation and Comprehensive Utilization of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of the People's Republic of China Ms Luo Xiaoli and the Director of the Climate Technology Centre and Network under the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Ms Ariesta Ningrum, introduced the strategies of the Chinese Mainland in promoting green and low-carbon industrial development and those of the UNEP in utilising the accelerated transfer of climate technology to promote low-carbon and green transformation in the Global South. A panel chaired by the Senior Vice President (Research and Innovation) of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Professor Christopher Chao, was held to discuss core issues of promoting regional green transformation and accelerating the transition towards sustainable development, jointly sharing policy experiences and exploring new directions for transnational co-operation. Various government officials and senior representatives of the Belt and Road countries were engaged to participate, including the Minister of State for Climate Change, Environment and Energy of the Maldives, Ms Aishath Inaya; Under Secretary of State at the Ministry of Environment of Cambodia Mr Oeurn Panchakneat; the Director General of the Foreign Environmental Cooperation Center of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Mr Zhang Zhifeng; the Rector of the Central Asian University of Environmental and Climate Change Studies of Uzbekistan, Professor Bakhtiyor Pulatov; and Researcher of the Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences at the Chinese Academy of Sciences Professor Yang Min.
Mr Huang and Mr Tse also witnessed Vice President of the Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences Ms Liu Chunyan exchanging a co-operation agreement with Dr Chui to advance the developments of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, the "Beautiful China Pilot Zone" and the co-operation of the green Belt and Road.
The Expo was co-organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd, with the EEB as co-organiser. The EEB has set up four exhibition zones at the Expo, themed "Green Energy and Buildings", "Green Transport", "Waste Reduction and Recycling" and "Better Environment". This year, including the EEB and the EPD, a total of 11 government bureaus and departments exhibited, presenting environmental measures, technologies and engineering projects that advance green transformation and help achieve carbon-neutrality.
The EPD established a comprehensive experience zone for green technology at the Expo showcasing sustainable living concepts and the ways to attain comprehensive win-win opportunities and advance development momentum to the public under the themes of "Green Flat", "Green Cooperation" and "Green Innovation", leading the environmental industry towards a higher quality and more sustainable future. The zone also provided a "Green Match" space to facilitate trade and business co-operation and exchanges, and to jointly build high-quality green development and technology.
To encourage citizens to actively participate in various environmental activities to experience and practise a low-carbon green lifestyle first-hand, the last day of the Expo (October 29) will be the public day. Members of the public can visit for free. For details, please visit the Expo's dedicated website: www.hktdc.com/event/ecoexpoasia/en.
Ends/Tuesday, October 27, 2026
Issued at HKT 20:18
Issued at HKT 20:18
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