Guests visiting the SCO exhibition site. (Photo by Xu Tianchang)

What does a “Beautiful China” look like? At the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Forum on Green and Sustainable Development in Ningbo, a 110-meter-long exhibition area provided the answer. Featuring physical exhibits ranging from PM2.5 sample filter membranes and supersensory robot dogs to waste-to-energy plant models and micro zero-carbon factories, the display brought the vision of sustainable development to life.

The exhibition corridor quickly became a popular attraction at the forum. Participating representatives from across China and officials from SCO member states praised the localized environmental efforts, giving a thumbs-up to “China Green,” “Zhejiang Green,” and “Ningbo Green.”

In the Ningbo exhibition area, a live broadcast of the Egret Garden at Ningbo Zhenhai Refining & Chemical Co., Ltd. immediately captivated domestic and international guests. “Amazing!” said Souphaksone Silaphet, an English news producer for Lao National Television, who was visiting Ningbo for the first time. “While rapidly advancing its development, Ningbo is minimizing its impact on the environment to the greatest extent possible, which is very rare.”

As a major Chinese manufacturing hub, Ningbo has consistently prioritized green-empowered, high-quality development. The fact that flocks of egrets have chosen to roost here for decades is a living testament to this commitment.

The 112-meter exhibition was thoughtfully divided into four major sections: China’s ecological civilization achievements, green development across SCO countries, provincial and municipal sustainability milestones, and an SCO children’s art exhibition.

The Ningbo section focused on two core themes: “Comprehensive Regional Governance and Public Participation” and “Green Development and Shared Benefits.” Visitors frequently stopped to take photos of Ningbo’s landmark eco-projects. These included the ecological restoration of Moon Lake, the creation of national beautiful bays in Xiangshan, the transformation of barren slopes in Chunxiao into an international racing arena, and the province’s first “green power terminal” in the Meishan Port Area. Other highlights featured the Wandi Village’s eco-friendly shared prosperity model and the country’s first blue carbon auction.

Chen Qiao, Vice President of Haopy Pharmaceutical Group, shared photos of the exhibition on WeChat as she toured the venue. “Ningbo has leading environmental protection technologies and development concepts, while Yunnan has unique flora and fauna resources. There is broad space for cooperation between the two sides,” she said, expressing her hope to connect with like-minded partners at the forum.

Chen has been deeply engaged in “ethnic medicine,” exploring ways to transform Yunnan’s rich biomedical resources into industrial assets. “I want to bring Ningbo’s advanced biotechnology, as well as its innovative measures in branding biodiversity, back to Yunnan,” she added.

Ningbo has recently completed a comprehensive background investigation of its terrestrial biodiversity, creating an electronic species catalog and distribution map. The city’s localized eco-branding has gained significant traction: Xiangshan County established the country’s first marine biodiversity protection practice base, while Longguan Township in Haishu District became China’s first biodiversity-friendly township, releasing the nation’s first local technical specification for “Nature-Based Solutions.”

Also drawn by these “green opportunities” was Zhuang Dingyun, head of ZJAMP Modern Agriculture (Jiashan) Co., Ltd. Since becoming China’s first pilot city for comprehensive regional spatial planning in 2022, Ningbo has integrated the management and restoration of local mountains, waters, forests, farmlands, lakes, and grasslands.

“I have always paid close attention to Ningbo’s attempts in sustainable soil restoration and farmland biodiversity,” Zhuang noted. He mentioned a previous visit to the CP Group in Ningbo to learn about improving saline-alkali land for agriculture, which he found highly inspiring.

Unlike those seeking traditional ecological partnerships, Yao Jianming, head of Merit Interactive Co., Ltd., was drawn to the technological innovations behind green development. After studying the PM2.5 sample filter membrane exhibit, Yao explained, “Rather than the device itself, I am more interested in the data collection and integrated applications behind it.” His company is currently developing a PM2.5 prediction model based on multi-dimensional meteorological and traffic data, which it plans to deploy in cities like Ningbo.

The exhibition concluded with the SCO children’s art display, which drew widespread appreciation from international representatives. Through oil paintings, watercolors, and sketches, the children’s artwork conveyed a unified message: building a green homeland, sharing a better future, and fostering lasting friendship and peace.