As the 44th National Arbor Day in China is approaching, Consul Generals and consulate officers from eight countries in Chongqing were invited to participate in the afforestation activity "2022 trees planting at the international friendship park" held at Hongyan park on the afternoon of February 22.

The opening ceremony of the activity "2022 trees planting at the international friendship park," photo provided to iChongqing

As an important ecological barrier city in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, Chongqing carries out voluntary tree-planting activities around Arbor Day every year. Representatives of consular officials from the consulates General of Hungary, the Philippines, Belarus, Japan, Canada, the United Kingdom, Cambodia, and Italy were invited to participate in the tree-planting activity and unveil the "International Friendship Forest."

Guests are planting the trees together, photo provided to iChongqing

The activity with the theme of "Building Bridge of Diplomatic Ties for A Long-Lasting Friendship" aims to practice the concept of green development and enhance international exchanges.

Guests are planting the trees together, photo provided to iChongqing

Themed of "Building Bridge of Diplomatic Ties for A Long-Lasting Friendship," the event aims to practice the concept of green development and enhance the international exchanges.

Wang Wen, director of the Chongqing Foreign Affairs Office, delivered the opening remarks, photo provided to iChongqing

Wang Wen, director of the Chongqing Foreign Affairs Office, said that the trees witness Chongqing's international friendship. She expected more foreign friends to plant trees and contribute to protecting the ecological environment.

Zhao Shiqing, Party Secretary of Yuzhong District, delivered a speech. Photo provided to iChongqing.

"We would like to take this activity as an opportunity to discuss the green development experience with the Consul Generals in Chongqing and strengthen cooperation in ecological, environmental protection, green industry development, urban organic renewal, and other aspects to achieve win-win results," said Zhao Shiqing, Party Secretary of Yuzhong District.

Gergely Kádár, Hungarian Consul General in Chongqing, addressed the crowd in a lively speech. Photo provided to iChongqing.

According to Gergely Kádár, the Consul General of Hungary in Chongqing, in 2021, major bilateral projects were implemented in the field of green financing and solar energy between Hungary and China, and Hungary is happy to work with Chongqing in the field of green development.

In 2021, about 5.106 million mu (about 841,146 acres) of forests were planted in Chongqing, with the forest coverage rate reaching 54.5 percent, ranking among the top 10 in China for the first time. In 2022, Chongqing will afforestation 5 million mu (about 823,684 acres), the forest coverage rate is expected to reach more than 55 percent.

The intern Mei Xuhang has attribution to this post.