Xizang forum seeks harmony between humans and nature

With the theme of promoting harmony between humans and nature and sharing the results of cooperation and development, the fourth China Xizang Trans-Himalaya Forum for International Cooperation kicked off in Nyingchi, Xizang autonomous region on Wednesday. [Photo by Palden Nyima/chinadaily.com.cn]

The fourth China Xizang Trans-Himalaya Forum for International Cooperation kicked off in Nyingchi, Xizang autonomous region, on Wednesday.

The forum was held in Lunang township of Nyingchi, which is surrounded by picturesque forests and magnificent snow-capped peaks. It was hosted by the People's Government of Xizang and co-hosted by its foreign affairs office and the government of Nyingchi.

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The three-day event was attended by ambassadors of several countries, journalists, scholars and experts from more than 20 countries and regions, including Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bolivia, Myanmar, Bhutan and South Korea. They focused on the implementation of the Nyingchi Initiative to promote development while protecting the region's ecology and working to create a new chapter of international exchanges and cooperation.

With the theme of promoting harmony between humans and nature and sharing the results of cooperation and development, the forum was expected to help the region push forward its efforts to become an important gateway to South Asia and to build the Trans-Himalaya Economic Zone and fully integrate it into the Belt and Road Initiative.

Wang Junzheng, Party secretary of Xizang, said at the opening ceremony that people in the Himalayan region are connected by mountains and rivers, bound by cultural ties and ecological interdependence.

It is even more important to shoulder a historic mission, demonstrate a sense of responsibility, take the opportunity to implement the Nyingchi Initiative, establish a clear direction of promoting development, and join hands in leading the way in building a community of shared future for mankind and a shared ecological community on Earth, Wang said.

Wang also notes that Xizang currently has established trade relations with 175 countries and regions. In 2023, the region's import and export trade volume increased by 138 percent, and it received more than 55 million domestic and foreign tourist visits in 2023.

Sri Lanka's State Minister of Foreign Affairs Tharaka Balasuriya, noted that the Himalayas are the prime source of water for the entire region. Most of the rivers originate from them and their biodiversity is crucial not only for the region but for the entire world.

"Sri Lanka believes that this forum provides a useful platform to foster international partnerships and the opportunity to build a sustainable economy and enhance the social development of the ecological environment of the trans-Himalayan region," Tharaka Balasuriya said.

Bijesh Shankar Palikhe, a member of the Nepal Youth Entrepreneur Association, said he was impressed by how Xizang has been developed while preserving its culture and ecology.

"I want to learn from the forum how Nepal can better preserve nature along with encouraging social development," he said.

In 2023, the GDP of the region grew by 9.5 percent. In the first half of this year, Xizang has continued to maintain strong development momentum, with many economic indicators ranking among the top in China in terms of growth rate.