On July 28, 2026, the Seminar on the Development of Industries related to "Bamboo as a Substitute for Plastic" (BASP) Initiative for Member States of the International Bamboo and Rattan Organization (INBAR), hosted by the International Centre for Bamboo and Rattan (ICBR), successfully concluded in Beijing. Chen Ruiguo, Deputy Director General of ICBR, and Li Lan, Deputy Director General of INBAR, attended the closing ceremony and delivered remarks.
Chen Ruiguo fully affirmed the participants’ outstanding performance during the seminar, noting that it served not only as a transfer of knowledge but also as an important platform for deepening cooperation and jointly pursuing green development. He expressed the hope that participants would take the seminar as a new starting point and play an active role in promoting BASP practices, upgrading their national bamboo industries, and advancing ecological governance and green transformation.
Li Lan noted that the participating countries highly recognize the positive significance of the BASP initiative in addressing environmental, social, and economic challenges. She said the seminar has strengthened friendship and consensus, laying a foundation for future practical cooperation, and that INBAR will continue to serve as a bridge to build a greener future together.
Representatives from Laos, the Gambia and Moldova shared their learning experiences, saying that through lectures, discussions, and field visits, they witnessed firsthand China’s coordinated efforts in promoting ecological conservation and economic growth. They gained a deeper understanding of the initiative and recognized bamboo’s tremendous potential as a renewable resource in green industry and plastic pollution reduction. They pledged to translate what they learned into concrete actions upon returning home.
The seminar was attended by 43 participants from 8 countries, including the Gambia, Indonesia, Laos, Liberia, Moldova, Nigeria, the Philippines, and South Africa. Its successful convening established a key platform for international bamboo and rattan cooperation and global BASP actions, contributing bamboo and rattan strength to the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the global green transition.
