Green innovation is essential for the sustainable development of all countries, and digital connectivity, one of the key drivers for social changes becomes important infrastructure of the future, experts said at the opening ceremony of a forum in Macao.

They made the remarks on Thursday morning at the 15th International Infrastructure Investment and Construction Forum, which is taking place from June 19 to 21, with "Green Innovative Digital Connectivity" as this year's theme.

The event seeks to bring China's wisdom to global infrastructure co-operation and help China and countries and regions involved in the Belt and Road Initiative make new progress in joint infrastructure construction, according to Fang Qiuchen, chairman of the China International Contractors Association, which jointly organized the event with the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM).

Guo Tingting, China's vice-minister of commerce, said that, under the guidance of the Belt and Road Initiative, China proposed together promoting "hard connectivity" of infrastructure, "soft connectivity" of rules and standards, and "heart-to-heart connectivity" with the people of all countries, contributing its wisdom to the international infrastructure cooperation.

According to her, Chinese companies have invested more than $350 billion in infrastructure, completed contracted projects in more than 200 countries and regions with a turnover of $2.4 trillion, and built a large number of low-carbon, environmentally friendly, digitally intelligent and interconnected projects that benefit the people's livelihood for host countries.

She said it is important to continuously enhance the new level of connectivity and seize opportunities of green development. As the global energy structure accelerates its transformation, the concept of jointly addressing climate change and promoting green and low-carbon economic development is deeply rooted in the hearts of the people.

To promote cooperation in green infrastructure, the Ministry of Commerce has signed memorandums of understanding on investment cooperation in the field of green economy with about 30 countries.