The One Belt and One Road International Symposium on Sustainable Water/Wastewater Management, which was organized by Nairobi-Tongji joint lab, UNEP-Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities (GPA), Global Wastewater Initiative (GW2I), Nairobi City Water and Sewage Company, and the Magazine of Industrial Wastewater Treatment, has been held on 18-19 August 2016 in Nairobi, Kenya, the Headquarters of UNEP.

The thirteenth Five-Year Plan is a vital period for ecological civilisation and environment protection. The market for environment is huge, so it needs our efforts to upgrade the scale, optimize the structure, improve the technology and also to promote the marketization. With the implementation of China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (“B&R”), the industry of water treatment faces the great challenge of output, especially the achievement of mutual benefit with the countries along the Belt and Road. However, it also brings the new opportunities including and technological exchange and cooperation.

Water pollution has worsened since the 1990s in the majority of rivers in Latin America and Africa. Good water quality, together with an adequate quantity of water, are essential for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals including goals for health, food security and water security. The Symposium is held under this background.

The symposium was held in the Conference Room 7 in the header quarter of UNEP. It was hosted by Prof. Li Fengting, Deputy Dean of UNEP-Tongji Institute of Environment for Sustainable Development (IESD) and was opened by Dr. Christopher Cox, speaking on behalf of Mr. Habib, El-Habr, Coordinator for UNEP-Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities (GPA). The symposium saw thirty-two (33) participants from China, Kenya, Australia, among other countries, attended and presented the latest technologies for water and wastewater treatment, supportive policies, laws and norms for preventing and reducing water pollution, and engaged in interactive discussion that exchanging cases studies and promising practices in different regions.

On the second day, 19 August, the participants paid a visit to the biggest dam of East Africa, Thika Dam and the biggest water treatment plant of East Africa, Ngethu Water Treatment Plan. Partnership potentials have been discussed through bilateral meeting.

In the context of “B&R” and South-South Cooperation, this symposium contributed to develop water/wastewater treatment and strengthen foreign cooperation. This symposium is a follow-up to the Workshop on Planning for Greener Cities and South-South Cooperation in Africa that took place in March and October 2015 in China, organized by the Ministry of Science and Technology of China, UNEP, UN-Habitat, Tongji University and other partners.