Cambodia Underscores Green Goals at Belt and Road Conference in Beijing

BEIJING, China (Oct.20, 2025) — Cambodia is ramping up efforts to combat environmental pollution and address climate change as part of its long-term commitment to sustainable development, Environment Minister Eang Sophalleth said Friday at the 2025 Belt and Road Green Innovation Conference in Beijing.

Delivering a keynote address under the theme “Together for Green Development,” Sophalleth said Cambodia is managing its natural resources in line with the government’s Environmental Strategic Framework, which aims to achieve a clean, green, and carbon-neutral Cambodia by 2050.

He credited the country’s peace and political stability—established under former Prime Minister Hun Sen and maintained by current Prime Minister Hun Manet—as the foundation for advancing green development goals.

“To realize this vision, the Ministry of Environment has adopted a strategic framework for 2023–2028 based on three pillars: clean, green, and sustainability,” Sophalleth said.
According to the minister, more than 14 million Cambodians—over half the population—are actively engaged in environmental initiatives. These include reducing plastic bag usage, improving community sanitation, and deploying technology to monitor air and water quality.

The ministry is also strengthening environmental impact assessments, promoting circular economy practices, and encouraging industries to reuse waste and plastic residues. Infrastructure for waste disposal and plastic management is being expanded, he said.

Cambodia is exploring new technologies to modernize waste management, promote clean production, and develop biodegradable plastics and waste-to-energy solutions. These efforts aim to protect the environment while fostering green economic growth.

Sophalleth welcomed continued cooperation under China’s Belt and Road Initiative, particularly in areas such as technology transfer, research, capacity building, and resource efficiency.

“Climate change is a global issue that requires collective action,” he said. “We need cooperation to prevent pollution and promote clean, sustainable development.”