Distinguished Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

First of all, on behalf of the Macao Special Administrative Region of the People´s Republic of China, I would like to welcome all the distinguished guests from all over the world for your participation of the 2015 Macao International Environmental Co-operation Forum and Exhibition, to jointly discuss the major environmental issues under the theme “Green Economy - Solutions for Clean Air”.

Clean air is a fundamental need for human survival and health, an essential element of sustainable development as well as a common goal for urbanization. In fact, we all live under the same sky, facing the climate change and air quality issues that no country or region can stay apart. Just in time, green economy aims to improve human well-being while reducing environmental risks. Therefore, through our collective expertise and experiences, we hope to promote green economy, reduce pollution, improve energy and resource efficiency, to explore sound clean and fresh air strategies.

The Macao SAR Government will strengthen the control of urban pollution, increase relevant measures to improve the urban air quality to meet with our national target of carbon dioxide reduction. We will continue to improve people’s quality of life, and promote Macao SAR to become a world tourism and leisure centre, and a service platform for commercial and trade cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries. The Macao SAR Government will continue to promote regional environmental cooperation, especially with the Provinces and Regions in the Pan-Pearl River Delta, and between China and the Portuguese-Speaking Countries, to work together for the development of environmental protection, nurture the development of service-oriented environmental industries as well as to promote the construction of a low-carbon and livable city by cleaning the air of the region.

On behalf of the Macao SAR Government, I would like to take this opportunity to express our sincere thanks to the Special Supporting Organizations, namely, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Environmental Protection, as well as to the Provinces and Regions in the Pan-Pearl River Delta, acting as Co-organizers for this event!

Lastly, I hope that the 2015 Macao International Environmental Co-operation Forum and Exhibition will achieve the objectives and wish all of you a pleasant and memorable stay in Macao!

Thank you!