Interview: China leads green transition with global impact, says Egyptian ecologist

by Xinhua writer Mahmoud Fouly

CAIRO, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- China has become a world leader in green transformation, offering environmental solutions that reach beyond its borders and contribute to global sustainable development, said a senior Egyptian ecologist.

"China has made remarkable progress in curbing pollution and is steadily expanding access to clean water while also expanding its green cover," Magdy Allam, an advisor to the Global Environment Facility (GEF), an international environmental funding organization, said in a recent interview with Xinhua.

He commended China as a champion of clean energy, noting that sustained investments in afforestation, water purification, and pollution control have fueled a sweeping environmental transformation.

Allam also praised China's leading role in battery and e-waste recycling -- a sector where China's recycling processes achieve high recovery rates for valuable materials like lithium, nickel, and cobalt, crucial for battery production. What was once considered worthless trash is now treated as "a valuable feedstock for new energy," he said.

China has become a global leader in solar and renewable energy, setting records for both capacity and deployment, he added.

Allam highlighted China's concept "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets" as a transformative vision that has guided the country's ecological policies for the past two decades.

Proposed 20 years ago, the concept underscores the imperative of ecological protection in tandem with economic and social development. Allam said it has become a cornerstone of China's environmental efforts.

Allam, who has visited China several times, hailed the mountain-to-forest restoration driven by the concept as among the country's most striking environmental feats.

Official data show that China planted 4.45 million hectares of trees, improved 3.22 million hectares of grassland, and treated 2.45 million hectares of desertified land in 2024.

"While in many countries the green cover is vanishing, China is accelerating efforts to expand it," he said, citing the rapid reforestation of once-barren areas in China.

China has moved faster than most nations in shifting from high-pollution production toward cleaner technologies and greener supply chains, cutting emissions per unit of GDP while continuing to expand output, he noted.

Allam highlighted that green transformation is also about economic development. "China cherishes water resources, highly values the green economy, and pays exceptional attention to the Sustainable Development Goals," he said.

The Egyptian ecologist observed that China's sustainability drive is grounded in long-term planning and decisive actions, from planting forests to phasing out fossil fuels and spearheading the transition to clean energy.

Beyond its domestic achievements, Allam emphasized that China plays an increasingly vital role in supporting sustainable development across Africa, the Arab region, and the broader Global South.

"China is actively assisting African countries, including Egypt, especially in technology, expertise, and new renewable energy," he said.

The expert highlighted China's role in Egypt's energy projects as a prime example, citing the massive solar power project in Benban, Aswan, where Chinese companies played a key role.

He also hailed Egypt-China cooperation in green transport and energy, including the local production of electric vehicles.

China's green partnerships extend beyond infrastructure, offering technology transfer and enabling countries across the Global South to leap toward sustainable, low-emission economies, according to the expert.

Developing countries, especially in Africa and the Arab world, view China as a trusted partner in building a sustainable future, he added. ■