BEIJING -- Chinese President Xi Jinping has sent a congratulatory letter to the International Network for Bamboo and Rattan (INBAR), which is celebrating its 20th anniversary Monday.

In the past 20 years, INBAR has played a role in exploring global bamboo and rattan resources, reducing poverty in bamboo and rattan producing areas, promoting trade of bamboo and rattan products and facilitating sustainable development, Xi said in the letter.

Stressing the development goals set at the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the president said China aimed to maintain the harmonious coexistence between man and nature while pursuing socialist ecological civilization, green development and a Beautiful China.

Xi said China would continue to support INBAR's work, and the country was willing to cooperate with the international community to implement the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to contribute to the building of global ecological civilization, a community with a shared future for mankind and a more beautiful world.

Founded in 1997, INBAR was the first intergovernmental organization established in China. A ministerial summit on South-South cooperation and the green development of bamboo and rattan was held Monday to celebrate its 20th anniversary.