The Embassy of Estonia in Beijing participated in the World Cleanup Day 2026 Global Observance, held in Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province, China, from 19 to 21 September. This year’s event, themed “From Clean Plates to Clean Cities,” brought together policymakers, city representatives, organisations and environmental experts from around the world to exchange experiences and discuss solutions for more sustainable communities.
The opening programme was attended by Ni Hong, China’s Minister of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, alongside approximately 2,000 participants from China and other countries.
World Cleanup Day has its roots in Estonia, where a nationwide cleanup initiative launched in 2008 grew into a global environmental movement. The event also provided an opportunity to recognise the contribution of Estonian environmental advocate Heidi Solba, whose leadership and work with Let’s Do It World have played an important role in developing the movement’s international network.
Leslie Leino, Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of Estonia in Beijing, participated in a panel discussion, presenting Estonia’s waste prevention policies and experience. The discussion focused on the role of public policy, innovation and citizen engagement in reducing waste and promoting sustainable practices.
The event highlighted the importance of international cooperation in addressing environmental challenges and provided an opportunity to exchange experiences with partners from China, the United Nations and other participating countries.