“Beijing International Friendship Forest” 2021 Tree Planting Event Held in Changping

The spring is in the air. On April 10, “Beijing International Friendship Forest” 2021 Tree Planting Event was held in east area of Strawberry Expo Park, Xingshou Town, Changping District. Over 200 people from over 30 countries including diplomatic envoys, foreign experts and foreign student representatives in Beijing attended the voluntary tree planting event.

Zhang Qian, Executive Vice President of Beijing People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and Executive Vice President of Beijing NGO Network for International Exchanges, delivered a speech on behalf of the sponsor. She mentioned that it was already the sixth “Beijing International Friendship Forest” Tree Planting Event. During the six events, over 1,700 foreign friends from over 100 countries planted over 5,200 trees of different varieties. It an important tree planting event in Beijing in spring and the largest tree planting event for foreigners held in Beijing.

This year coincides with the 40th anniversary of the nationwide voluntary tree planting campaign which is an active response to the UN sustainable development goal and climate changes. Today, we gather in Changping to bond over trees and to bring a wash of green to the earth that is our common home.

Her Excellency Ann Derwin, Ireland’s Ambassador to China, addressed the event on behalf of foreigners participating in this event. She said that she has witnessed the extraordinary efforts and remarkable achievements made by China in terms of afforestation and has fully experienced the easy access to nature in Beijing. Ireland is dedicated to environmental protection and green development. It is her hope that Irish expects can have in-depth cooperation with Beijing in terms of green development.

After a short ceremony, the Chinese and international participants got down to business and the tree planting was in full swing. After a whole morning of hard work, participants planted around 300 trees including lacebark pine, ginkgo, Chinese scholar tree, midget crabapple and flowering peach. The new trees swayed in the wind, full of life. After the event, the sponsor awarded “Certificate of Honor for Tree Planting” for all participants.

Supported by China NGO Network for International Exchanges, “Beijing International Friendship Forest” 2021 Tree Planting Event was jointly held by various organizations, including Beijing People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, the Foreign Affairs Office of the People’s Government of Beijing Municipality, Capital Greening Office, China Communist Youth League Beijing Committee, Beijing NGO Network for International Exchanges, Beijing MINHE Foundation for International Exchanges, the People’s Government of Changping District and Beijing Afforestation Foundation.

Beijing is an international exchange center. By holding the “International Friendship Forest” Tree Planting Event, the city demonstrates its inclusiveness and vitality and deepens the affection of locals and foreigners for Beijing.