Bamboo & Rattan Congress: Global Bamboo & Rattan Congress to address green growth

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02:36

In a world where green means go, environmentalists continue to promote "going green". The first ever Global Bamboo and Rattan Congress is now underway in Beijing. The three-day meeting has gathered over 1,200 top-level representatives to discuss nature-based solutions in attaining sustainable development. CGTN's Hou Na talks to them about how bamboo can promote green growth.

Poverty reduction, climate change, green growth. Those are topics you hardly associate with bamboo.

GUNTER PAULI, FOUNDER CLUB OF ROME "Bamboo can pop up in no time, bamboo can give us sustainability, bamboo can clean your water. In the strategy to strengthen rural areas, bamboo is going to be a key component."

Over one thousand participants at the Global Bamboo and Rattan Congress have held more than 70 panel discussions on bamboo. They're focusing on how it and rattan can help tackle poverty, mitigate climate change, restore land, and create sustainable housing.

CHARLOTTE SALFORD, ASSOCIATE VICE-PRESIDENT INTERNATIONAL FUND FOR AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT "We've heard a lot how China can help reduce poverty through bamboo. It's not only poverty alleviation, it's also the green agenda, how we can achieve the sustainable development goal by 2030. Bamboo has amazing solutions for these two topics."

China will continue to promote sustainable development by bolstering the bamboo and rattan industries. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said in a letter to Congress that officials will enhance cooperation with developing countries to implement the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

HON. SHITAYE MINALE DEPUTY SPEAKER OF ETHIOPIAN PARLIAMENT "The Chinese government is supporting many developing countries including my country Ethiopia, especially in building research centers. The Chinese are supporting technically, financially and scientifically."

It is the first global congress to focus on bamboo and rattan for sustainable development. As the international community continues to promote environmental protection and sustainable development, participants say bamboo and rattan have big roles to play looking ahead.

HOU NA, CGTN, BEIJING.