Int’l students on more concrete actions for greener development ahead of Boao Forum

International students from Asian countries call for more concrete actions, from energy-saving habits in daily life to organizing new campaigns, to promote a greener future ahead of the upcoming Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2025.

The conference, scheduled for March 25 to 28 in Boao, South China's Hainan Province, has the theme "Asia in the Changing World: Towards a Shared Future. " It will focus on development, foster dialogue, explore innovative formats and value tangible outcomes.

In an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN), several Asian youths studying in China shared a raft of measures people can take daily to promote green development.

"I think a simple way of making an impactful step for our environment is definitely try to use more public transportation instead of using private vehicles, but I definitely also think that we need to improve on our public transportation as well," said Celia Annetta from Indonesia.

"I believe young people can make big differences by making little actions every day, like reducing waste, saving energy, so turning off the lights and unplugging devices when not in use and spread awareness about it, but also be more eco-friendly," said Adel Baktygulova, a student from Kyrgyzstan.

"By reducing waste, recycling and choosing eco-friendly products, we can minimize our environmental footprint, embracing sustainable habits like conserving energy and water, using green transportations and supporting renewable energy," said Do Pham Ngoc Die, a student from Vietnam.

The youths also shared their views on the roles that international students in China can play in promoting green development and addressing global challenges, including climate change and resource shortages.

"In the context of global changes, I believe that we as the young people can be very powerful. One of my friends from Malaysia is actively involved in many environmental awareness campaigns and he was also one of the executives in the Net Zero Future Association here at Tsinghua. Last year I was one of the hosts to host his campaign and we made a video that showcased how waste materials could be transformed into souvenirs like keychains and also the video highlighted how many creative ways for the waste materials to be repurposed. So this is the idea to spread a message of sustainability and also encourage others like the people around us to take actions and to promote a greener lifestyle," said Cheong Chee Wah from Malaysia.

"As international students in China, we can share our cultural perspectives on green energy, share how our governments, our countries are working towards a green and sustainable future. This can spark new ideas, new dialogues and new initiatives," said Adel Baktygulova.

"We can organize awareness campaigns, participate in campus sustainability activities and use social media to educate others about environmental issues. By collaborating on research, volunteering for local eco-projects and advocating for green policies, we can inspire other students and communities to adopt eco-friendly habits", said Do Pham Ngoc Die.

Int’l students on more concrete actions for greener development ahead of Boao Forum

Int’l students on more concrete actions for greener development ahead of Boao Forum

Members of China's Antarctic expedition team at Kunlun Station, the highest-altitude Chinese research station on the continent, are using upgraded container homes to better cope with the region's harsh climatic conditions.

Kunlun Station is located in Dome A, the highest ice dome on the Antarctic Plateau. The area offers an ideal location for scientific research in fields like glaciology, astronomy, geology, and geophysics, thanks to its unique geography and natural conditions. However, its harsh climate makes it one of the most inaccessible places on Earth for humans.

Living at an altitude of 4,087 meters, with an average annual temperature of minus 52.5 degrees Celsius, the expedition team at Kunlun Station has adopted specially designed container houses to help them withstand the extreme cold and low atmospheric pressure in the region.

"Our main mission for this Antarctic expedition is to deploy and operate our self-developed polar research pressure-resistant buildings at Kunlun Station, creating an environment similar to a plain. Just like a space station, these houses will separate us from the harsh external conditions, with an independent environmental control system inside. They will significantly improve the living and working conditions and greatly reduce the physiological damage caused by the extreme environment on the team," said Ye Zhiwu, a member of China's 41st Antarctic expedition team.

In addition, the upgraded container cabins, with more space and enhanced functionality, now accommodate all expedition team members at Kunlun Station, while significantly improving living conditions.

This advancement marks a key step in China's inland scientific research in Antarctica, according to Ye.

"After the building is pressurized, the pressure difference between the interior and exterior reaches 25 kPa, with a temperature difference of up to 110°C. Ordinary buildings cannot meet the strength and insulation requirements for such conditions. Through advancements in structural and material technology, we have achieved high strength, excellent airtightness, superior insulation, and lightweight construction for the building. We also have overcome challenges related to the rapid assembly of modular buildings and airtightness, allowing for fast setup with fewer people. With reserved interfaces, we can expand the building size next year, like putting together building blocks," said Ye.

Advanced container homes safeguard China's Antarctic expedition amid harsh conditions