The launch of the China-World Bank Group (WBG) Global Center for Ecological Systems and Transitions took place in Beijing on Sunday, emphasizing ecological restoration as its primary area of cooperation.

China's Minister of Finance Lan Fo'an and World Bank president Ajay Banga spoke at the event.

According to Lan, the center symbolizes over 40 years of China-WBG cooperation and is expected to create a new benchmark for such cooperation in the new era.

"This center represents the latest achievement in more than 40 years of cooperation between China and the World Bank. China's development and progress have also provided successful examples for the World Bank's international cooperation. I look forward to the center being deeply rooted in this solid foundation of collaboration, promoting and supporting a more institutionalized and systematic cooperation, and creating a new benchmark and platform for China's cooperation with the World Bank in the new era," said Lan.

Banga said that China's ecosystem restoration programs offer valuable lessons for balancing development and ecological health.

"What China did is to undertake ambitious programs to restore ecosystems and landscapes. You saw some of that in the opening video. Some of these were in partnership with the World Bank Group. And these efforts, I think, are where the valuable lessons have come. But I think you have demonstrated that creating jobs does not have to come at the expense of a livable planet," he said.

During the meeting, both parties signed the memoranda of understanding for the global center and a China-World Bank Group partnership facility administration agreement.

Attendees said that the center will provide a platform for countries, including China, to share international experiences and promote the dissemination, exchange and learning of good practices at the global level.

"China does show that, whether it's drought or desertification, deforestation or land degradation, these are not inevitable and they are reversible, and you can have an environment and an economic agenda," said Valerie Hickey, Global Director for Environment at the World Bank.

"I think it's only natural to see China partnering with multilateral institutions like the UN or the World Bank in this area, and I think these types of partnerships—knowledge centers—are the future of partnership," said Beate Trankmann, United Nations Development Programme Resident Representative for China.

(Cover: A screenshot from a video, China-WBG Global Center for Ecological Systems and Transitions launch event, Beijing, China, December 8, 2024. /CGTN)