China ready to strengthen int'l cooperation in environmental protection

BEIJING, Nov. 18 (Xinhuanet) -- Vice-Premier Zeng Peiyan said China will further increase international exchange and cooperation in the fields of environment and development for mutual benefit and win-win results.

Zeng made the remark here Friday at the opening of the Fourth Session of the Third Meeting of China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development, which was presided over by Xie Zhenhua, minister of the State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA).

China regards resources-efficiency and environmental protection as a fundamental state policy, said the vice premier, who is a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee.

In the 2006-2010 period, China will try to meet the requirements of a scientific concept of development by changing modes of economic growth, making active efforts to develop a recycling economy, speeding up the building of a resource-efficient and environment-friendly society, and maintaining coordination between economic development and population, resources, and environment, according to the official.

As the largest developing country, Zeng said, China will solve the issues of environment and development, which will benefit its own 1.3 billion population and make enormous contribution to the world's sustainable development as well.

Zeng said China is willing to increase international cooperation environmental projects, technology, capacity and research, and he urged developed nations to increase their financial and technical assistance to developing countries including China in the field of environmental protection.