Ministers from over?50 Asia Pacific nations
met in Seoul Monday for a two-day conference to discuss sustainable
development.
Pan Yue, deputy administrator of the State
Environmental Protection Administration, told the meeting that
China would endeavor to realize healthy "green growth" through new
environmental policies and strategies.
The Fifth Ministerial Conference on Environment and
Development (MCED) was organized by the UN Economic and Social
Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). Its theme is realizing
"green development" in the region.
Also attending were South Korean President Roh
Moo-hyun, UN Environment Program Executive Director Klaus Topfer,
ESCAP Executive Secretary Kim Hak-su, former Prime Minister of
Japan Ryutaro Hashimoto and 42 ministers from 58 ESCAP members.
Pan said the essence of "green growth" is "to
maintain economic development and environmental sustainability at
the same time," but admitted that "in China, as the economy has
developed faster, the environment has suffered."
He said China is pushing a strategy for
"full-scale, harmonious and sustainable development," a concept of
a "harmonious society that stresses the importance of harmony
between people and nature."
The "recycling economy" is being developed and
effective evaluation of large-scale projects enhanced, according to
Pan.
He added that public awareness and environmental
supervision?are being promoted, sharing information with
ordinary people and non-governmental organizations and encouraging
their participation.
"We are currently piloting a scheme to take account
of environmental factors in gross domestic product calculations
in?10 areas of the country, and aim to roll it out nationwide
within three to six years," said Pan.
He promised that China would shoulder its
responsibility in the world, positively participating in
international cooperation, fulfilling its obligations and making
contributions to solve environmental issues.
The MCED ministerial meeting is due to end today
after adoption of a ministerial declaration and regional
implementation plan on sustainable economic development.
(Xinhua News Agency March 29, 2005)