LHASA, July 18 (Xinhua) -- Officials and international delegates attending a forum held in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region have highlighted the region's endeavors to protect its ecological environment and advance international cooperation across Himalayan regions.
Themed "Promoting Harmony between Humanity and Nature, Sharing the Fruits of Cooperation and Development," the fifth China Xizang Trans-Himalaya Forum for International Cooperation was held in the city of Nyingchi from Thursday to Saturday, having attracted attendees from 29 countries and regions.
"The trans-Himalayan region is the roof of countless mountains and the source of thousands of rivers. Safeguarding this pure land is the shared responsibility and historic mission of all countries across the region," said Wang Guangqian, vice chairperson of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, the country's top political advisory body.
Since the first forum in 2018, China has carried out extensive exchanges and cooperation with all participating parties in environmental governance, green development, cultural exchanges and mutual learning, yielding fruitful outcomes, Wang said at the forum's opening ceremony on Friday.
At this year's forum, attendees discussed ecological conservation, cultural tourism development, sports cooperation, and health on the plateau.
More than 50 percent of Xizang's land has been designated as areas within ecological protection "red lines," while the forest coverage rate and vegetation coverage of grasslands keep rising year by year in this region. Xizang remains one of the regions with the finest environmental quality in the world, according to Wang Junzheng, secretary of the Xizang Autonomous Regional Committee of the Communist Party of China.
"We have adopted the strictest systems and most rigorous rule of law to protect the ecological environment," Wang said.
For many, Xizang ranks among the top places to visit because it is a place to find harmony, peace and beauty, Gim Huay Neo, managing director of the World Economic Forum, said at the Parallel Symposium on High-Quality Development of Plateau Culture and Tourism.
"At a time of geopolitical tensions and global fragmentation, travel and tourism become especially important to bridge cultures, foster human connections and create shared experiences," she said. "The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau can be a place where we embrace our differences and yet work together to safeguard our common home for future generations."
Bangladeshi Ambassador to China Md. Nazmul Islam said the forum is both timely and profoundly relevant, reflecting a collective aspiration that transcends borders and resonates deeply with the realities and challenges faced by all countries in this region.
"Forums such as this one play an important role in promoting dialogue, building partnerships and generating innovative ideas for addressing common challenges," he said. "By bringing together policymakers, scholars, entrepreneurs and representatives from different sectors, this platform helps strengthen mutual understanding and encourages practical cooperation." Enditem
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