Chief Executive of Macao Special Administrative Region Chui Sai On said Thursday that the SAR government was preparing the first Environmental Planning of Macao until 2020 with the vision of "Building a low carbon Macao, creating green living together."

Chui made the remarks at the opening of the 2011 Macao International Environmental Cooperation Forum and Exhibition (MIECF), which lasts for three days.

Chui said that as many countries and regions are formulating strategic energy conservation and emissions reduction policies, the SAR government will try its best to facilitate and demonstrate the low carbon urban development in coping with national emission reduction policies and the "Kyoto Protocol", which is applicable in Macao Special Administration Region.

In 2008, the State Council issued "The Outline of the Plan for the Reform and Development of the Pearl River Delta (2008-2020)" and positioned Macao SAR as a "World tourism and leisure center".

"According to the blueprint towards the world tourism and leisure center, Macao will continuously improve the environment, provide a low carbon, convenient, comfortable, pleasant space for living and activity through integration of urban and environmental planning, transport and environmental infrastructures to achieve the above goals and objectives," said Chui.

Chui said that the SAR government was preparing the first Environmental Planning of Macao until 2020 to achieve the above goals and to fulfill the needs, adding that Macao's recent environmental policies include introducing tax preference for environmental light vehicle and the establishment of "Environmental Protection and Energy Conservation Fund", which will finance local industries and social organizations to introduce air quality, energy and water conservation projects.

The 2011 MIECF, hosted by the SAR government, features the theme "Green Opportunities Low Carbon Urban Development". It consists of forum, exhibition, business matching, which will spearhead and promote greater local and international cooperation in the sharing of the latest green technologies, with an aim to promote Macao's role as an environmental protection platform between the Pan-Pearl River Delta and other countries of the world, according to Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM).

Internationally renowned guest speakers are invited to the forum, including Joschka Fischer, former vice-chancellor and former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Germany, while the exhibition covers several major projects in the green industry, including solar, bio-energy, hybrid energy systems, electric cars and hybrid vehicles, charging stations, battery and storage solutions, waste disposal, water conservation and air pollution control, according to the IPIM.

Last year, the MIECF attracted over 5,900 representatives of organizations and 362 participating entities from nearly 50 regions and countries to set up pavilions over 13,400 square meters.