Erhai forum showcases China's green development drive

Policymakers, environmental experts and business leaders from around the world gathered on May 30 for the 2026 Erhai Forum on Global Ecological Civilization Construction, held against the backdrop of Erhai Lake — one of southwest China's best-known freshwater lakes — in Dali, Yunnan province.

Conceived as a key supporting event and lasting legacy of the landmark 15th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the U.N. Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15), the forum has been held five times since its inception in 2021. This year, under the theme "Driving Innovation Together for a Beautiful China," more than 200 participants from 16 countries and regions exchanged views on ecological governance, green innovation and sustainable development.

The 2026 Erhai Forum on Global Ecological Civilization Construction takes place in Dali, Yunnan province, May 30, 2026. [Photo courtesy of Erhai Forum Secretariat]

Institutions and local growth fuel a 'Beautiful China'

At the opening ceremony, Chang Bo, president of China International Communications Group (CICG), noted that since 2012, China has embedded ecological progress into its national development strategy, advanced the building of a Beautiful China through stronger institutions and the rule of law, and contributed to global sustainable development through initiatives including its carbon peak and carbon neutrality commitments.

Chang said every country faces green development challenges as it modernizes, and called for low-carbon innovation, deeper cooperation on shared governance and communication that makes environmental ideas resonate. He said CICG has long been committed to communicating ecological civilization concepts and green development practices internationally.

"We are willing to work with partners from around the world to strengthen exchanges and cooperation, tell the story of ecological civilization together, and contribute more wisdom and strength to building a community of all life on Earth," Chang said.

Chang Bo, president of China International Communications Group (CICG), delivers remarks at the 2026 Erhai Forum in Dali, Yunnan province, May 30, 2026. [Photo by Liu Rong/CICG]

Guo Weimin, president of the China Public Relations Association, said a broader development consensus should be built around the idea that "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets."

He also called for stronger communication and a coordinated governance model in which government plays the leading role, businesses fulfill their responsibilities and society participates. Highlighting the forum's host city, he said Dali should build a stronger ecological brand and become a symbol of China's ecological civilization.

Guo Weimin, president of the China Public Relations Association, delivers remarks at the 2026 Erhai Forum in Dali, Yunnan province, May 30, 2026. [Photo by Liu Rong/CICG]

Wang Xiangang, deputy secretary of the leading Party members group of the Yunnan provincial government, outlined the province's progress in ecological governance. He said the proportion of days with excellent or good air quality in Yunnan  has been more than 98% for several consecutive years.

Highland lake restoration has yielded significant results, and the water quality at the cross-boundary sections of the province's six major river systems has remained stable at Grade II or above for years. Forest coverage has risen to more than 57%, and Dali has been recognized as an International Wetland City.

"Our pristine environment has turned 'A Life Called Yunnan' into a shining calling card, drawing a record 5.51 million visitors to sojourn in the province in 2025," Wang said.

Wang Xiangang, deputy secretary of the leading Party members group of the Yunnan provincial government, delivers remarks at the 2026 Erhai Forum in Dali, Yunnan province, May 30, 2026. [Photo by Liu Rong/CICG]

Global voices applaud China's green progress

The forum also drew perspectives from international dignitaries and experts, who praised China's environmental strategies and shared local success stories.

Phinij Jarusombat, former deputy prime minister of Thailand and chairman of the Thai-Chinese Cultural and Relationship Council, reflected on his first visit to Dali 50 years ago and said the city's beauty and prosperity had grown markedly since then.

Phinij praised China's achievements in ecological governance, poverty reduction, rural revitalization and new energy development, and vowed to continue bringing Thai visitors to China and introducing China's development experience to Thailand.

Former Thai Deputy Prime Minister Phinij Jarusombat answers questions from reporters about global climate policy and China's new energy sector at the 2026 Erhai Forum in Dali, Yunnan province, May 30, 2026. [Photo by Ren Bin/China.org.cn]

Speaking to reporters after the forum, Phinij said some Western countries have withdrawn from international organizations dealing with climate change and ecological protection, driven by a desire to preserve fossil fuel dominance. China's ecological progress and new energy sector, however, have already surpassed the West, he said.

"History will prove the correctness of the Chinese path, and the West will gradually change its perception," he said.

Hans d'Orville, chairman of the Advisory Committee of the International Center for Creativity and Sustainable Development under the auspices of UNESCO, speaks with reporters after the 2026 Erhai Forum  in Dali, Yunnan province, May 30, 2026. [Photo courtesy of Erhai Forum Secretariat]

Hans d'Orville, chairman of the Advisory Committee of the International Center for Creativity and Sustainable Development under the auspices of UNESCO, highlighted the critical role of creative thinking in environmental preservation. He described creativity as an inexhaustible, renewable resource driving the green economy.

By merging digital cultural industries with creative innovation, d'Orville said, societies can not only accelerate the low-carbon transformation of traditional sectors but also awaken public environmental consciousness, turning eco-friendly practices into daily habits.

In an interview with China.org.cn after the forum, d'Orville praised China's ecological civilization philosophy, saying its constitutional enshrinement demonstrates a profound commitment to future generations and points the way toward global sustainable development. He lauded China's progress in cutting emissions and decarbonizing its economy.

"Rivers are becoming cleaner, lake pollution is being brought under control, and wind power and electric vehicles are gradually replacing conventional energy sources," d'Orville said, adding that these gains are directly reflected in the steady improvement of people's daily lives.

Five grassroots representatives gather for a group photo at the 2026 Erhai Forum in Dali, Yunnan province, May 30, 2026. Standing at the center is Patrik Bachstätter, a local blogger widely known as the "Swedish Stay-at-Home Dad in Dali." [Photo courtesy of Erhai Forum Secretariat]

Grassroots representatives from China and abroad also shared firsthand experiences in Dali's ecological governance. Among them was Patrik Bachstätter, a blogger widely known on Chinese social media as the "Swedish Stay-at-Home Dad in Dali." He has collected coffee grounds from 15 local cafes, transforming 1 to 2 tons of waste into organic fertilizer for his chemical-free farm in Dali.

In a post-forum interview, Bachstätter noted that he first visited Dali in 2015. "Back then, Dali was already beautiful, but when I returned in 2021, it had become even greener, with green corridors built around Erhai Lake," he said.

Over the past few years, he has witnessed steady ecological improvements in Dali alongside a growing shift among local farmers toward organic cultivation. "I am incredibly happy. Good soil and good food are the best gifts nature can give us," he added.