Former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger shared his concerns and vision over the environment during a media interview on Sunday while visiting Guiyang, capital of Guizhou province.

“I think humanity has developed so much with every passing decade, and it has grown so rapidly. The idea of protecting the environment with the concept of ecological civilization is important. Not only for one country, but every nation in the world.”

Kissinger was speaking ahead of a major green forum to be held in Guiyang this month.

“I have been very impressed by statements from the Chinese president that the challenge of our times is to develop a new pattern of international relations, one that sees nations cooperating rather than confronting each other. The environment and ecology are fields in which we can apply this principle,” the 90-year-old statesman said.

Of course it is not always possible that all nations do the same thing simultaneously because they start from different levels of development, he said.

But when the United States and China work together, they can set an example and inspire other nations. So we need global cooperation, he added.

The Eco-Forum Global Guiyang conference will be held in July 19 to 21.

The forum is an independent international organization committed to improving the world by engaging business, political, academic and other leaders to shape global, regional and industrial agendas.

It also will be the first national level forum about ecological civilization in China.

“I believe people in Guizhou are working on something that will affect the future of humanity, something in which the United States and China can work together. I wish that this conference brings together as many nations and as many people as it can,” Kissinger said.