Jiang Zehui, the vice-chair of the Population, Resources and Environment Committee of the National Committee of CPPCC Photo: Yin Yeping/GT

The International Bamboo and Rattan Organization (INBAR) celebrated its 20th anniversary with a ministerial forum in Beijing on November 6.

The forum topic was bamboo and rattan for green development and south-south cooperation. Ministers from over 30 countries, ambassadors and 350 guests participated in the event, during which thoughts about the bamboo industry's local and international potential were shared.

The body also held a flag raising ceremony for the Federative Republic of Brazil, marking Brazil's official entry as a member country of INBAR.

The purpose of the forum was to boost the sustainable development of the bamboo and rattan industry in China and the world by strengthening south-south cooperation and deepening the collaboration, policy and information exchange, and the spread of technology. Jiang Zehui, the vice chair of the Population, Resources and Environment Committee of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and a co-chair of the INBAR Board of Trustees, delivered a congratulatory letter from Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The director general of INBAR Hans Friederich Photo: Yin Yeping/GT

Mulatu Teshome, President of Ethiopia, and Liu Zhenmin, the under-secretary-general for Economic and Social Affairs sent their remarks via pre-recorded videos. Other guests, including the Jamaican Ambassador to China Antonia Hugh, China's deputy foreign minister Li Baodong, the director of the State Forestry Administration, Zhang Jianlong, and chair of the INBAR Board of Trustees Andrew Bennett also gave speeches. The director general of INBAR, Hans Friederich, hosted the event.

The event lasted from early afternoon into the evening with remarks, dialogues, and exhibitions providing the audience with a thorough understanding of INBAR's past achievements and future possibilities for the world bamboo industry.

Signing ceremony for the strategic partnership agreement between INBAR and the municipal government of Meishan was also a part of the events. A musical concert with instruments made from bamboo signaled the end of the celebration ceremony of INBAR's 20th anniversary.