China's green transition endeavor contributes to the global fight against climate change and inspires other countries to move towards renewable energy, said Andrew Forrest, executive chairman and founder of Australian mining giant Fortescue, at the plenary of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2026 on Thursday in Boao, south China's Hainan Province.
Running from Tuesday to Friday, this year's conference is themed "Shaping a Shared Future: New Dynamics, New Opportunities, New Cooperation."
While addressing the plenary, Forrest, also a member of the BFA board of directors, said China's pursuit of zero-carbon growth signals the nation takes environmental and economic wellbeing into consideration, and Australia has enhanced cooperation with China on sustainable development.
"China is going green because it understands what is happening with climate change, but also because economically it makes huge sense for China. And so I congratulate all those nations and I see them in front of me who are going to new energy, going to new materials, going to new green steel, as Australia is working hard to do with China, with huge partnerships in the making," he said.
During his speech, Forrest called on countries to join China in shifting to clean energy sources for the benefit of their own people and others around the world.
"So I ask all of us now take the lead of China, which is acting in the best interest of each of its people, to lower the cost of living and increase the standard of living. And let us all humanity move to green energy," he said.
Founded in 2001, the BFA is a non-governmental and non-profit international organization committed to promoting regional economic integration and bringing Asian countries closer to their development goals.
China's green transition powers global sustainable development: Australian mining tycoon
China's green transition powers global sustainable development: Australian mining tycoon
Leveraging its unique role as a crossroads of Chinese and Western cultures, Macao is building itself into a vibrant exchange hub through a diverse array of world-class events and broad public participation, unlocking fresh momentum for its growth.
Since early this year, the Macao Special Administrative Region (MSAR) has actively aligned itself with the nation's 15th Five-Year Plan, positioning itself as a base for exchange and cooperation where Chinese culture is mainstream and diverse cultures coexist.
From a Chinese New Year parade and gourmet carnival to a spectacular street procession, an international comedy festival and a sailing regatta, a dazzling lineup of events has drawn enthusiastic crowds and showcased the city's distinctive East-West charm.
"This parade is really interesting, because it's a mix of cultures, showing the multiculturality of Macao. As you can see, it's very fun and enjoyable to be here," said Marietta, a foreign tourist who visited the 2026 Macao International Parade in March, where troupes from Macao and around the globe put on a cultural spectacle with a variety of performance styles.
The city's growing openness to cultural fusion is also felt by event organizers.
"We believe Macao is becoming more and more open, with ever greater cultural integration. As we connect more with local audiences and the global market, we've come to see Macao as a true meeting point of East and West. We often talk about mutual learning among civilizations. In our words, it's a 'two-way embrace', " said Cheng Le'er, assistant president of Mahua FunAge and an organizer of the third Macao International Comedy Festival.
Since April, the MSAR government has launched a brand-new Cultural and Sports Carnival. Flash mob performances, including traditional Cantonese opera, martial arts and Portuguese folk dance, have popped up at historic landmarks and in local communities, showcasing Macao's rich heritage and vibrant energy.
"With 'connection' and 'synergy' as our core concepts, we are breaking away from traditional frameworks to blend profound cultural traditions with dynamic sports, delivering visually stunning and vibrant cultural and sports performances that expand from the main venue to different heritage sites and communities," said Leong Wai Man, president of Macao's Cultural Affairs Bureau.
By weaving together culture, sports and tourism, Macao has boosted its businesses in these sectors. In the first quarter of this year, inbound visitor arrivals exceeded 10 million. During the recent May Day holiday, daily arrivals hit an all-time high of nearly 250,000.
Meanwhile, the MSAR government is aligning with the national 15th Five-Year Plan by drafting its own five-year plan to drive high-quality economic and social development.
"The 15th Five-Year Plan has dedicated chapters on Hong Kong and Macao, clarifying their roles and directions. This brings major opportunities for Macao's development into an international tourism center, a cooperation platform between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, and a pivotal base for multicultural coexistence," said Lam Fat Iam, a member of the MSAR Legislative Assembly.
"Moving forward, Macao must leverage its unique strengths, step up exchanges and cooperation with the mainland and overseas, and strive to bring in more national cultural resources and international projects, building itself into a key gateway for opening up and mutual learning among civilizations," said the lawmaker.
Diverse cultural events fuel Macao's rise as East-West exchange hub
