Online tools will allow sharing on environment

China has established an online platform for the sharing of environmental information among member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. It will facilitate environmental exchanges, and more seminars and training will be organized, a senior Chinese official said in a recent interview with China Daily.

In addition to presenting the major environmental laws and regulations of SCO member states, the platform－presented in Chinese, Russian and English－also includes timely updates of environmental news, said Zhou Guomei, acting director-general of the China Center for Shanghai Cooperation Organization Environmental Cooperation.

A Chinese language compilation of Indian environmental laws and regulations is also expected to be published soon, she said.

"This helps SCO countries to know each other's environmental requirements and lays a very good foundation for environmental cooperation," she said.

According to the center, which was established in June 2014 to promote environmental protection in SCO states, the online platform will also include environmental practices, information about conferences and events, experts' points of view and environmental data.

Under the SCO framework, China has held 13 training programs and seminars on environmental themes, including green economic development, solid waste disposal and water pollution control, drawing more than 200 officials, experts and entrepreneurs from SCO member states, Zhou said.

"These events have greatly promoted the sharing of policies and experience on environmental protection, as well as exchanges of environmental protection technologies," she said.

Zhou said China will continue to strengthen environmental exchanges by holding one or two seminars and training sessions under the SCO framework to exchange information on laws and regulations, policies and standards and share experiences on controlling pollution of the air, water, soil and solid waste.

She said the Chinese government will continue the Green Silk Road Envoy Program and offer 1,500 training opportunities for environmental officials from places involved in the Belt and Road Initiative, which will also benefit many officials from SCO states.

Established in 2016, the program aims to help China and others involved in the Belt and Road Initiative to achieve the goals of the United Nations' 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development through capacity building.

While proactively making use of multilateral cooperation channels such as the BRI to promote environmental cooperation, China has also established a bilateral environmental cooperation mechanism with Russia and Kazakhstan. The top environmental watchdogs of China and Tajikistan are also expected to sign a memorandum of understanding soon, Zhou said.

The 19th meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, which was held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, the capital, has passed an implementation plan for the Conception of Environmental Cooperation Among Shanghai Cooperation Organization Member States, which was passed in 2018 at the SCO Qingdao Summit.