Inauguration of 2008 MIECF

The “2008 Macau International Environmental Co-operation Forum and Exhibition” (2008 MIECF) was inaugurated this morning (April 23) at The Cotai Strip Convention and Exhibition Centre of the Venetian Macao Resort Hotel. The event is hosted by the Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region, co-organized by Provincial and Regional Governments of the Pan-Pearl River Delta Region, and supported by the Ministry of Environmental Protection of the People's Republic of China. Mr. Edmund Ho, Chief Executive of Macau SAR, gave a speech in the opening ceremony, pointing out that water and energy are matters of concern for both the international community and the Macau citizenry. He stressed that Macau’s water and energy security hinges on the support of the Central Government, and that the SAR is dedicated to solving problems regarding salinity, energy conservation, and environmental protection awareness-raising, in order to attain sustainable development. The officiating guests accompanying the Chief Executive in the opening ceremony include Mr. Li Benjun, Deputy Director General of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao SAR, Mr. Wan Yongxiang, Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the Macao SAR, Mr. Hu Siyi, Vice Minister of Ministry of Water Resources of the PRC, Mr. Xu Qinghua, Representative of the Minister of Ministry of Environmental Protection of the PRC, Mr. Su Zengtian, Vice Governor of the People’s Government of Fujian Province, Mr. Hong Lihe, Vice Governor of the People’s Government of Jiangxi Province, Mr. Liu Li Wei, Vice Governor of the People’s Government of Hunan Province, Mr. Li Jinzao, Vice President of the People’s Government of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Mr. Jiang Sixian, Vice Governor of the People’s Government of Hainan Province, Mr. Xin Weiguang, Vice Governor of the People’s Government of the of Guizhou Province, Mr. He Duanqi, Vice Governor of the People’s Government of Yunnan Province, Mr. Yau Tang-wah, Secretary for Environment of Hong Kong SAR, Mr. Luo Ou, Deputy Secretary-General of the People’s Government of Guangdong Province, Mr. Tian Weizhao, Chief Director of Sichuan Environmental Protection Bureau, Mr. Francis Tam, Secretary for Economy and Finance of Macao SAR, and Mr. Lau Si Io, Secretary for Transport and Public Works of Macao SAR. After the ceremony, keynote speeches were delivered by Mr. Xu Qinghua, Representative of the Ministry of Environmental Protection of the People's Republic of China (on “Latest Development of Environmental Protection in China”), Mr. Hu Siyi, Vice Minister of Ministry of Water Resources of the People's Republic of China (on “Policy and Roadmap of Establishing a Water Conservation Society”), Mr. Subinay Nandy, Country Director of United Nations Development Programme, China Country Office (on “Climate Change: the Human Development Challenge”), and Mr. Thomas Roe, Head of Office of European Union Office of the European Commission in Hong Kong and Macao (on “The European Union’s International Environmental Cooperation Policy”). With “Water, Energy and Sustainable Development” as its theme, the 2008 MIECF is aimed at promoting sustainable development cooperation and technology transfer in the environmental protection sector by bringing together representatives and experts from the “9+2” region, the neighboring regions, and economies with long-term ties with the region, while the SAR serves as a platform for exchange. There were about 800 participants attending the opening ceremony. Fifty-nine speakers coming from 18 countries and regions, including the European Union (EU), the US, Belgium, Spain, Britain, Brazil, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, India, Japan, South Korea, Luxembourg, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, China, Hong Kong and Macau, will be sharing their views in this two-day forum on issues such as “Agenda for International Co-operation”, “Energy Saving and Emission Reduction”, “Efficient Use and Treatment of Water Resources”, “Clean Manufacturing” and “Intelligent / Eco City & Sustainable Transportation”. Aside from the forum, the 2008 MIECF also boasts a 6,900-sqm exhibition space showcasing 164 institutions and enterprises, including a 1,368-sqm Macau pavilion with 26 participating local enterprises and government departments. Furthermore, exhibitors from other provinces and areas in the Pan-Pearl River Delta region such as Fujian, Jiangxi, Hunan, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Sichuan, Guizhou, Yunnan and Hong Kong are also showcasing their recent developments in the environmental protection sector. On the other hand, exhibitors from Portugal, Finland and Sweden, etc., are sharing their latest environmental protection technologies and their views on future demands. In business matching, the 2008 MIECF is bridging enterprises from Hunan, Jiangxi, Guizhou, Guangdong, Sichuan, Hainan, Beijing, Macau, Hong Kong, Portugal and the EU, etc. A total of 38 such meetings have been arranged for today. Furthermore, a “Products and Services Presentation Program” will be held tomorrow from 10:00 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. Jointly organized by Macau Trade and Investment Promotion Institute and Macau Association of Environmental Protection Industry, the Program comprises ten presentation sessions by representatives from the Mainland, Macao and Portugal. Topics include “Energy Saving Lighting System”, “Recycling of Hot Water Energy in Air Conditioning System”, “Modern Plant Management”, “Water Quality Management”, “Facility Management”, “Engine Lubricating Oil and Flocculant”, “Environmental Friendly Chopstick” and “Renewable Energy”, etc. 2008 MIECF Organizing Committee
April 23, 2008