On June 11, 2021, BRI International Green Development Coalition (BRIGC), Belt and Road International Environmental Technology Exchange and Transfer Center (Shenzhen), World Resources Institute (WRI), and C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group (C40) jointly held Symposium on the Low-carbon Transition and Green Development of BRI Cities and Inception Meeting for Study on Belt and Road Case Study Report on the Green Development of Cities in Beijing. Mr. Erik Solheim, Convener of the BRIGC Advisory Committee, Senior Advisor of WRI; Mr. Li Yonghong, Deputy Director General, Foreign Environmental Cooperation Center (FECO), Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE); Dr. Fang Li, Chief Representative, Beijing Representative Office, WRI China; and Ms. Chen Boping, Regional Director for East Asia, C40, attended and addressed the meeting. More than 30 representatives from research institutions, NGOs and businesses at home and abroad attended the meeting.

Focusing on the key areas of low-carbon transition and green development of cities, the symposium discussed the technical pathways of low-carbon development, shared the practices and experience of domestic and international cities in pursuing green development, and launched the study on Belt and Road Case Study Report on the Green Development of Cities.

Mr. Erik Solheim pointed out that urban planning, public transportation, solid waste management and eco-environment protection play a vital role in realizing the low-carbon and green development of cities. China's experience and good practices in building green cities could enlighten BRI participating countries in their future development.

Mr. Li Yonghong said that there are many cases where cities realized pollution and carbon reduction through adopting green development models around the world. It is very important that we provide solutions to BRI participating countries on the green development of cities, promote the coordinated and balanced development of cities and establish closer partnerships through policy dialogue and joint research.

Dr. Fang Li suggested that it's important to incorporate biodiversity conservation, carbon neutrality and digital technology into the planning, development, and transition of cities. BRIGC should unleash its full potential to enhance cooperation with national governments, cities and businesses of BRI participating countries to offer insights and solutions to these countries.

Ms. Chen Boping emphasized that cities are playing an increasingly important role in promoting the green development of BRI. C40 is ready to work more closely with Chinese and international partners in areas such as green investment in cities, industrial cooperation and technology exchange.

Experts attending the symposium discussed the latest concepts on the green development of cities as well the opportunities and challenges we are faced with, and shared cases and practices in areas such as urban planning, transportation, architecture and industrial parks. Mr. Nick Godfrey, Director, Coalition for Urban Transitions (CUT), introduced the latest research outcomes on the pathway to zero-carbon cities around the world; Mr. Cui Shenghui, Professor, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences elaborated on the Indicators for Green City and shared the assessment results of major cities in China. Mr. Wei Qinpeng, Associate Professor, Building Energy Research Center, Tsinghua University, shared pathways for the development of zero-carbon buildings and zero-carbon communities in cities.

BRIGC has published two issues of Belt and Road Green Development Case Study Report in 2019 and 2020 respectively. Belt and Road Case Study Report on the Green Development of Cities will study cases on the green development and low-carbon transition of cities, covering eight priority areas, including "green and low-carbon urban planning", "green energy, biodiversity and eco-system", "sustainable transport", "pollution treatment and environmental improvement", "green building", "zero-waste cities", and "nature-based solutions and climate-adaptive cities". The report will offer solutions for green development that could be referenced by other cities through sharing and analyzing the experience of promoting the green development of cities in BRI participating countries.