Guangdong province and the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions will jointly host China’s National Event on the Environment Day 2026, the central authorities announced on Thursday.

China celebrates its Environment Day on June 5 every year, coinciding with the United Nations’ World Environment Day.

The National Event on the Environment Day 2025 was held on Thursday in Chongqing municipality. Themed “Beautiful China, I am a Pioneer”, this year’s event showcased the achievements made in promoting the construction of Beautiful China Pilot Zones across the country and encouraged the active participation of the public in the construction of a beautiful China.

READ MORE: ​Xi calls for efforts to improve global environmental governance

At the event, an official from the Ministry of Ecology and Environment announced that next year’s National Event on the Environment Day will be co-organized by Guangdong province, and the Hong Kong and Macao SARs.

Zhang Shaokang, vice-governor of Guangdong, Tse Chin-wan, secretary for environment and ecology for the HKSAR, and Ip Kuong-lam, director of the Environmental Protection Bureau of the Macao SAR, received the event’s ceremonial flag from the central government official.

Representatives from the three places said that hosting the National Event on the Environment Day will enable them to demonstrate the nation’s ecological commitments, and to showcase the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA)’s achievements in conservation and environmental protection.

The representatives said they will study and learn from the experiences of previous host cities, and will further deepen exchange and cooperation in the field of ecological and environmental protection. They aim to transform the Greater Bay Area into a strategic fulcrum to support the nation’s new development pattern, a demonstration zone for high-quality development, and a pioneer on the path to Chinese modernization.

In recent years, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment and the Central Office of Spiritual Civilization Construction have collaborated with the governments of the provinces or municipalities holding the National Event on the Environment Day — an event that serves as a platform to motivate all sectors of society to participate in achieving ecological and civilizational progress.

READ MORE: Hong Kong holds activities to support National Ecology Day

The joint hosting of the National Event on the Environment Day marks another milestone in developing the Greater Bay Area’s synergy. The three places will also co-host the 15th National Games in November.

In an earlier interview with China Daily, Patrick Lau Wing-chung, a professor in the department of sport, physical education and health at the Hong Kong Baptist University, said that through such cross-boundary cooperation, young Hong Kong people can learn more about the development of the country.  

Cities in the Greater Bay Area can also take the opportunity to leverage their respective advantages for positive integration, serving as a model for synergistic development.

Li Lei contributed to the story.

Contact the writers at atlasshao@chinadailyhk.com