A mangrove forest in southern China has become a bridge between China and France and recently drew the attention of French President Emmanuel Macron.
In a letter to SGD Pharma, a French pharmaceutical glass manufacturer, Macron praised the company's efforts to protect mangroves in Zhanjiang, a coastal city in southern China's Guangdong Province.
Jinsha Bay Mangrove Science Education Base, Zhanjiang (Photo: Xu Anrui)
From Zhanjiang to Paris
In 2023, SGD Pharma, which has operated in Zhanjiang for three decades, partnered with the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in China (CCI FRANCE CHINE) to launch the "Mangrove Together" project, which aims to plant 100,000 mangrove saplings by 2030.
A year later, Frédéric Barbier, General Manager of SGD Pharma China and Asia-Pacific, co-authored Zhanjiang's Mangroves, the Forest of the Sea with Professor Liao Baowen, former chairman of the Zhanjiang Mangrove Wetland Conservation Foundation, and Fabien Pacory, Executive Vice President of CCI FRANCE CHINE.
A poster of "Mangrove Together" project (Photo: CCI FRANCE CHINE)
The English publication was later forwarded to Macron via SGD Pharma's headquarters in France, which helped introduce the achievements of China-France environmental cooperation taking place nearly 9,000 kilometers away.
For Pacory, Macron's response holds particular significance. "It shows that our leader is following what we are doing," he said. "Together with Chinese partners and local communities, we can transform our environmental commitments into concrete actions and prove that international cooperation for sustainability is possible."
"Mangroves speak to everyone"
For Barbier, mangroves are wonderful trees. "They shield coasts against typhoons, purify water and offer ideal habitats for a wide range of species."
Zhanjiang, known as China's "City of Mangroves," is home to the largest mangrove nature reserve in China. The city has 6,667.79 hectares of mangroves, accounting for 21.5% of China's total.
Mangrove sapling (Photo: Xu Anrui)
He stressed that mangroves transcend national boundaries.
"The beauty of mangroves is that they speak to everyone," he said. "It doesn't matter if you're from France or China. Everyone can participate in restoring biodiversity."
Pacory and his team have traveled across multiple nations to promote the "Mangrove Together" project, aiming to prove that the mangrove restoration project is far from mere paperwork, but a practical, replicable ecological cooperation model.
"We do believe the example shows that, together with local Chinese partners and residents, we can do something for the environment—something practical, something reliable, something that makes sense, and something through which we can show the world that it's possible to work together for sustainable actions."
Guangdong's green transformation
Having lived in Guangdong for 22 years, Pacory has personally witnessed the province's rapid transformation and regards the changes as stunning.
He applauded Zhanjiang for attracting foreign investment while rolling out rigorous environmental targets. The city is committed to ensuring that the sustainable development goals are achieved and that businesses operating in the city contribute to this effort.
"Guangdong is constantly changing," he said. Local governments are actively promoting biodiversity protection while pursuing economic growth.
He also sees that China's broader green transformation is gathering momentum.
"China is heading in the right direction," he said. "Policies are encouraging innovation in renewable energy, recycling, and clean technologies. The achievements are remarkable."
A poster of "Mangrove Together" project (Photo: CCI FRANCE CHINE)
In the coming years, CCI FRANCE CHINE plans to deepen its cooperation with Zhanjiang and expand conservation projects across Guangdong's key ecological areas, including Dinghu in Zhaoqing, mangrove wetlands near Hengqin in Zhuhai, and Futian in Shenzhen.
As Shenzhen prepares to host the APEC meetings this year, Pacory hopes the city's mangrove ecosystems will serve as a unique showcase of China's commitment to ecological conservation and global green cooperation.
Reporters: Dai Bosi, Xie Maishi
