Chinese wisdom can be used to tackle climate change: former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

The Global Center on Adaptation, a managing partner of the Global Commission on Adaptation, which is guided by 19 countries including China, opened its first regional office in Beijing on Thursday. In an exclusive interview with People's Daily Online, former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon praised China's great efforts in the fight against climate change.

"This is the first office of the Global Center on Adaptation that we have established in Beijing. I'd like to highly commend the leadership and far-reaching future-oriented vision of President Xi Jinping and his government and people to work together with the world's people and the United Nations to address the climate change issues," said Ban.

Following the U.S. retreat from the Paris Agreement in 2017, Chinese President Xi Jinping reiterated on June 7, 2017, that China is committed to a path of peaceful, open and green development. Xi also promised to continue implementing policies that support clean energy and promote harmony between nature and humankind.

"All the efforts showed by China, particularly during the time of climate negotiation in Paris, show that China can be the champion in addressing the climate, and also campaigning and leading the world's efforts," added Ban.

According to Ban, climate change is a pressing issue that may advance much faster than anyone expects, and the great wisdom and intelligence of Chinese people and their ancestors can be used to better tackle climate change issues.

"I am a strong believer in Chinese wisdom. Now it's time for Chinese people to show political will based on wisdom, to make sure that our succeeding generations will live harmoniously with nature in the millenniums to come. I appreciate President Xi Jinping and his government establishing this Global Center on Adaptation in Beijing, and we are very much happy to work together," said Ban.

In addition to China's efforts in climate change, Ban also praised the country for its contribution to multilateralism and South-South cooperation.

"Though China has emerged as the second largest world economic power, China herself is still a developing country. Therefore, I really appreciate that China has been investing and helping a lot in South-South Cooperation through, particularly, the China-Africa Forum," said Ban, who further noted that the Belt and Road Initiative is also an essential and generous support framework for many developing countries.

"China has been playing a very important role in international peace and security, not to mention in international development, particularly in South-South cooperation. We expect with such great economic achievement, and since China has become the second largest economic power, it will continue to do much more for the harmonious and sustainable development of the international community," he added.

Ban also expressed his admiration for China's development over the past few decades, stressing that China's achievement in poverty alleviation is remarkable.

"China has gone through some very difficult periods, facing abject poverty. China is the first country to lift hundreds of millions of people out of poverty. According to President Xi Jinping's visionary and strong plan to [eradicate poverty] by the end of 2020, China will be the first country to declare the complete eradication of abject poverty, which is a phenomenal achievement," he said.

"President Xi Jinping has expressed many times that we are living in a community of shared future, not a single country can live alone in this world, with transformative development of science and technology, we have become one global family. We have to work together. Therefore, we can present a better future for ourselves and future generations," said Ban.

For the upcoming celebration of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, Ban sent congratulations to the Chinese public and government, wishing them prosperity, peace and harmony in the future.

He also sent wishes to People's Daily, hoping it can "continue to play an important role to bring China and the world closer to achieve common goals for humanity."