UN chief, Baidu CEO co-launch app for e-waste recycling

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and CEO of China's search engine giant Robin Li co-launched a mobile application for electronic waste recycling to save resources and reduce pollution.

The "Baidu Recycle 2.0" can help individuals disposing e-waste products easily find authorised companies to make an efficient and environment-friendly deal, Xinhua news agency reported on Wednesday.

"Data revolution is giving the world powerful tools that can help usher in a more sustainable future," Ban said at the launching ceremony.

The new app is considered a star product of UN Development Programme and Baidu's joint data lab to facilitate greener and more sustainable society in China.

"Our technology and internet platform can contribute to China's clean development. And that is exactly what we want to do," said Robin Li, whose 15-year-old company commands 80 percent of domestic market.

The meeting with Li was Ban's first stop of his China visit from September 2 to 6. The two talked over sustainable development, technology innovation and climate change, among other global issues.

Ban and Li signed their names on an old-fashioned laptop, the first of the 4,000 products recycled through the app's 1.0 version launched last year. The laptop will later be a part of an e-waste sculpture to further raise public awareness on recycling in China.

--Indo-Aisan NEws Service

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