The world"s first 20-megawatt offshore wind turbine installed in waters off East China"s Fujian Province Photo: Courtesy of China Three Gorges Corporation

　　Green development and sustainability took center stage at the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2026, with many participants highlighting China"s remarkable progress in low-carbon transition, environmental protection, and its green development model that offers a valuable example for the world.

　　Bright Murr, representative of the Wirtschaftskammer Österreich (Austrian Economic Chambers), told the Global Times at the BFA that she has witnessed great changes in China"s approach to environmental protection and sustainability during the past 35 years.

　　"China is clearly at the forefront of alternative energies, including wind power, solar energy, and electric mobility," Murr said.

　　While acknowledging significant progress in China, she noted that new challenges for the world remain. "We are fighting climate change, global imbalances, and environmental degradation together. The key is not to focus solely on economics, but on the real impact our economies have on the planet. In this regard, China and Asia can play a vital role in shaping the world"s sustainable development," said Murr.

　　In terms of the role that China and Asia can play in green development, Denis Depoux, global managing director at Germany"s strategy consulting firm Roland Berger, noted China"s abundant supply of green energy for a wide range of industries.

　　"Chinese companies and industries, as well as multinationals operating in China, are now far more prepared to go low-carbon than they were five years ago. Five years ago it was difficult because there wasn"t enough green energy and it was too costly," Depoux told the Global Times on Wednesday.