The summit marking BRI's 10-year anniversary notably drew Russia's President Vladimir Putin as a guest of honor among leaders and officials from 130 nations.
While its domestic spending for dirty coal-fired power surges, China promises to boost green energy in its global Belt and Road Initiative.
China's President Xi Jinping said on Wednesday his nation's US$1 trillion global infrastructure program has shifted to a "philosophy of open, green and clean cooperation" that promotes connectivity and sustainability.
The chair of the talks called for optimism despite divisions among plastic-producing nations and those urging restraints.
The wars in Europe and the Middle East, climate change and soaring national debts hung over the annual talks.
A new U.N. report shows how prioritizing debt over services like health care and education plagues the developing world.
Just 22.3% of all the e-waste - any product that has a plug or battery - was properly collected and recycled in 2022.
Fourteen cases remain under investigation by U.N. investigators, who have met with authorities in Israel.
The chair of the talks called for optimism despite divisions among plastic-producing nations and those urging restraints.
The number of people facing high levels of acute food insecurity has increased every year since 2019.
The group of organizations that reviewed the U.N. agency recommends several ways of strengthening its neutrality.
