Foreign officials spoke highly of China's green development path as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Green and Sustainable Development Forum was held in Ningbo, East China's Zhejiang province, on Wednesday.

In a congratulatory message to the forum, President Xi Jinping said China is ready to work with all sides to deepen policy coordination, experience sharing, and project-based cooperation to improve global environmental governance.

In the message, Xi said that China, as a participant, contributor and leader in promoting global ecological civilization, upholds the concept that "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets". The country also unswervingly follows the path of prioritizing ecological conservation and green development, he emphasized.

He noted that this year marks the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the SCO, and the opening year of China's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) period.

Against this backdrop, he said China is willing to work with all sides to promote the Shanghai Spirit, step up to take the SCO responsibility, strengthen policy alignment, experience exchanges and project cooperation, advance the improvement of the global environmental governance system, and build a clean, beautiful and sustainable world.

The Shanghai Spirit is defined by mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for diversity of civilizations and pursuit of common development.

Addressing the forum, which was co-hosted by the SCO Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation Commission, China's Ministry of Ecology and Environment, and the People's Government of Zhejiang Province, Shezra Kharal, Pakistan's minister of state for climate change and environmental coordination, lauded Xi's leadership in advancing the vision of green and sustainable development, and for initiating this forum.

"His emphasis on ecological civilization and harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature provides an important intellectual and policy framework for addressing today's environmental challenges," she added.

Pakistan values the SCO as an important avenue for building partnerships that deliver real outcomes, and she appreciated the emphasis of this forum on ecological civilization and the principle that environmental protection and economic development can reinforce each other.

"This understanding is critical for shaping future development pathways," she said.

Eang Sophalleth, Cambodia's minister for the environment, extended his gratitude for China's support in Cambodia's energy transition and environmental conservation.

He said the ministry has received significant support for low-carbon development from China's Ministry of Ecology and Environment.

This partnership, he said, has contributed to Cambodia's targets of generating 70 percent of its electricity from clean sources by 2030 and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 55 percent by 2035.

In addition, he said the ministry has also partnered with China's Ministry of Natural Resources on coastal conservation.

He stressed that Cambodia recognizes the immense value of deep cooperation within the SCO and aims to realize the significant potential for collaboration in green technology innovation and sustainable finance.

"Together we can accelerate the low-carbon transition and unlock venues for shared prosperity," he said.

Ismailov Rustam, consul-general of Uzbekistan in Shanghai, said that having made significant and continually growing contributions to green and sustainable development, China played a pivotal role in global efforts to combat climate change.

"These efforts demonstrate that China is shifting from a model of rapid industrial growth to a more balanced and ecologically responsible approach to development — a shift that has been recognized by international organizations, including the United Nations," he said.