SCO Green Development Forum opens in Shandong

The Green Development Forum of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Countries opened on Monday in the coastal city of Qingdao, in east China's Shandong Province, with a focus on joint efforts to put the environment at the heart of economic development.

The two-day event, themed "Joining hands in green development, together promoting harmony between man and nature", is co-hosted by the SCO Committee on Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation, the Chinese Ministry of Ecology and Environment, the People's Government of Shandong Province and the SCO Secretariat.

Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to the forum on Monday, in which he pointed out that it is the consensus of SCO countries to protect the environment and promote green development.

China hopes to strengthen communication and cooperation in the field of green development with all parties via the forum, to boost the sustainable economic and social development of all countries and promote harmonious coexistence between human and nature, Xi said.

The event will include the opening ceremony, one main forum and three parallel sub-forums; "Year of Ecology of the SCO 2024", "Technological Innovation for Green and High-Quality Development", and "Climate Action for Green and Low-Carbon Transition".

More than 350 guests from China and overseas, including leaders, representatives of environmental authorities, entrepreneurs, experts and scholars, and representatives of international organizations, are gathering at the forum to share their insights on advancing green development.

An initiative was launched during the forum to deepen cooperation among SCO countries in green energy, green industry, response to climate change, ecological protection and other fields.

The forum is the first large event held by China after assuming the rotating SCO presidency, and the first high-level event among SCO countries with a focus on green development.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization is a permanent intergovernmental international organization established on June 15, 2001 in Shanghai with its founding members being the Republic of Kazakhstan, the People's Republic of China, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Russian Federation, the Republic of Tajikistan and the Republic of Uzbekistan.

SCO Green Development Forum opens in Shandong

China has seen a tourism boom in the first five days of the week-long National Day holiday, as people seize the opportunity to embrace natural and cultural attractions nationwide.

From Oct 1 to 5, Beijing received 20.5392 million tourists, including 10.8615 million tourists from other Chinese cities and 46,800 inbound tourists. Key scenic spots of the Chinese capital, including the Wangfujing Street, the Temple of Heaven Park, the Summer Palace, Nanluoguxiang, and Badaling Great Wall, were crowded with people during the holiday.

In east China's Jiangxi Province, many tourists choose to climb mountains, or walk into the countryside to feel the charm of nature. In the first five days of the National Day holiday, Sanqingshan Scenic Area, a world natural heritage site in the province's Shangrao City, received more than 600,000 tourists, an increase of 25.6 percent over last year.

"The scenery, stones and mountains are just like traditional Chinese ink paintings, with a particularly beautiful artistic conception," said Liu Hao, a tourist.

While waiting to enter the park at the foot of the mountain, tourists watched the She people's performances with rich ethnic minority style, and the children enthusiastically participated in colorful games.

"Although there are a lot of people, everyone line up in an orderly manner and there are places to sit," said Zou Wenhao, another tourist.

As of Sunday, the total number of visitors to the Mount Taishan, a UNESCO world heritage site in east China's Shandong Province, has exceeded 7 million this year. From Oct. 2 to 5, the number of tourists at the scenic spot exceeded 73,000 per day for four consecutive days, and the number reached a peak of 82,000 on Oct. 3.

Tourists can not only enjoy the beautiful scenery of Mount Taishan, but also taste various delicious food such as Taishan fried chicken and sweet and sour Yellow River carp in the nearby food street.

Chinese cities enjoy tourism boom during National Day holiday