Respected Mr. Chairman,

　　Dear Members,

　　The China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development h as entered a new phase. I am very glad to have the opportunity to brief you on China's implementation of international environmental conventions at this new starting point. With this, I hope to provide you with some further understanding as to where China stands in implementing these conventions, and to attract attention and support from all concerned.

　　1. The Chinese Government Holds A Serious and Responsible Attitude Toward Implementing International Environmental Conventions

　　With the intensification of many global environmental problems, such as ozone depletion, global climate change, biodiversity decrease, marine pollution, and toxic chemical and hazardous waste contamination, a series of environmental community. Implementation of these international environmental conventions has become the unshirkable responsibility of governments of all nations in the world.

　　China attaches great importance to combating environmental problems in the process of economic and social development. While going all out to protect and improve its own environment, China actively participates in international environmental events, actively promotes international cooperation on the environment, and actively fulfills its international obligations, with a view to achieving practical results.

　　The Chinese Government joined the Vienna Convention on Protection of the Ozone Layer and the revised Montreal Protocol respectively in 1989 and 1991. It was the first nation to propose the establishment of the multilateral fund mechanism.

　　As a developing country in urgent need of economic development, China has committed itself to reducing the use of ozone depleting substances (ODS) for the health of all human beings and for our common future. This is the contribution of the Chinese people to global environmental protection.

　　Being one of the nations owning the richest resources of biological diversity in the world, China is under the threat of excessive resource exploitation due to the pressure of population increase. The Chinese Government attaches great importance to the issue, and works actively with the international community for approaches to conserve biodiversity. Premier Li Peng signed the Convention on Biological Diversity on behalf of the Chinese Government at UNCED in 1992, and the Standing Committee of the People's Congress ratified the Convention in the same yea r, making China one of the first signatories to the Convention. This shows the sincere and active attitude of the Chinese Government.

　　China also pays much attention to the issue of climate change. Although at present the average energy consumption per capita and CO2 emission per capita in Chin a is much lower than the world average, the Chinese Government, out of serious consideration for global environmental problems, signed and ratified the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in 1992. A series of measures have also been taken to prevent global climate change, such as saving energy, enhancing energy efficiency, rationalizing energy structure, vigorously promoting hydro-power, prudently developing nuclear power, strengthening research and development of geothermal power, solar, wind and marine energies, and advocating energy saving production modes and proper consumption, so as to reduce greenhouse gas emission.

　　The Chinese Government signed The Basel Convention on Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal in 1990, and became one of the first signatories. In line with the Basel Convention and national laws, the Chines e Government imposes severe punishment on transboundary movement and disposal of hazardous wastes that are against the convention, and orders their return to the starting point. It also has implemented a series of effective measures to prevent such incidences from occurring in the first place. China calls upon all nations in the world to crack down on the illegal transfer of hazardous wastes.

　　2. Major Progress in Implementing the Conventions

　　2.1 Implementation of Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer

　　The Chinese Government has established a Leading Group for Ozone Layer Protection led by the National Environmental Protection Agency, and involving eighteen ministries. The Leading Group has passed in principle the Guidelines for Implementing Multilateral Fund Projects under Montreal Protocol in China (on a trial bas is). In 1995, strategies were formulated for the phase-out of ODS in eight industrial sectors, which include aerosol, foamed plastics cleansing, fire fighting, refrigerator and industrial and commercial refrigeration, automobile air-conditioning and chemical industries. Further, the plan for the overall phase-out of national and international situation for ozone layer protection, China is now organizing a revision of the Plan for Gradually Phasing Out Substances that Deplete t he Ozone Layer in China.

　　China is enthusiastically applying and implementing projects for the phase-out of ozone depleting substances (ODS). Up to now, 220 projects have been approved by the Executive Committee of Multilateral Fund, with USD150 million of financial aid; most of the projects are in operation. Since the first project executed by UNDP in the Tianjin Polyurethane Factory was approved, eighteen invested project s with a capacity for phasing out 16,300 tons of ODS had passed examination by 3 1 July 1997. This shows the elimination of ODS in China has entered the implementation stage.

　　The Chinese Government uses an administrative approach to regulate the production of aerosol products using CFC, to regulate the installation of new CFC product ion facilities, and to regulate the construction of new fire engine and fire extinguisher factories. On 5 June 1997, the Announcement on Banning the Use of CFC in the Fine Spray Sector was promulgated to control and ban the production and further usage of this ODS. Positive effects have been gained through these administrative approaches.

　　2.2 The Implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity

　　The Chinese Government has established a Coordinating Group for Implementing the Convention on Biological Diversity.

　　The Group consists of twenty ministries with the National Environmental Protection Agency at the head. According to requirements laid out by the Convention, and based on the practical need for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity in the country, the China Biodiversity Protection Action Plan was formulated and promulgated in June 1994, and its implementation is presently underway. In October 1996, China joined the IUCN - The World Conservation Union - as a state member. The Biodiversity Data Management Project started in 1996 in collaboration with UNEP and is expected to be completed in October 1997. Its accomplishment will strengthen the management ability of the biodiversity information network in China. The Country Report for Biological Diversity has been generally completed with financial support from UNEP, and is now under examination. The Nature Reserve Management Project supported by Global Environment Facility and the Preparatory Fund Project for the Protection and Sustainable Use of Wetlands Biodiversity in China are also being implemented.

　　The Chinese Government has carried out inspections for four consecutive years since 1993 to deal with illegal hunting and gathering of wild animals and plants, and the smuggling and trade of rare species. The Government punished such actions as violating the Law on Protection of Wild Animals in line with the implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity.

　　Regulations on the Protection of Wild Plant Resources were promulgated this year by the State Council, which has further improved laws and regulations for biodiversity conservation in the country.

　　2.3 Implementation of the Basel Convention on Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes

　　In order to control the import of hazardous wastes, the National Environmental Protection Agency and General Administration of Customs jointly promulgated the Announcement on Strictly Controlling Trans-Boundary Movement of Hazardous Wastes in China. It stipulates strict import control on 23 categories of hazardous wastes and garbage. Aside from substances listed in Basel Convention, the Announcement also includes other types of industrial garbage that are considered to be under strict control by China. This means that they are not allowed to be moved into China for dumping or disposal. For wastes that are to be recycled and utilized as raw materials, the importer and utilized must carry out an environmental risk assessment for the wastes in question, and get approval from the environmental protection authorities. In July 1994 the Chinese Government promulgated Temporary Provisions on Strictly Controlling the Import of Wastes from European Union, in line with principles set in the Basel Convention.

　　The Law on Prevention and Control of Environmental Pollution Caused by Solid Wastes was promulgated on 31 October 1995, which has severe punishment provisions f or the illegal import and transit of wastes. The National Environmental Protection Agency, in collaboration with other related ministries, issued the Temporary Provisions on Environmental Management of the Import of Wastes and National Inventory of Wastes Under Import Limit in March 1996. In 1996, the Government earnestly investigated and dealt with the illegal import of foreign wastes in places such as Beijing, Shanghai, Xinjiang and Tianjin. This year alone more than 200 ships carrying foreign wastes to Chinese ports were turned away.

　　In 1993, the Chinese Government established the National Centre for Training and Technology Transfer on Management and Disposal of Hazardous Wastes. This training centre has now become the regional center for Asia and the Pacific.

　　2.4 Implementation of the London Guidelines on Information Exchange on the Inter national Trade of Chemicals

　　In March 1994, China issued Regulations on Environmental Management of Chemicals Imported for the First Time and Toxic Chemicals and its Implementation Guideline s. The two documents clearly specify the types of chemicals to be registered, the registration procedures, the information required, the registration fees and so forth. They are easy to follow. Subsequently, the Center for Chemical Registration was established in NEPA. It is a technical support organization for implementing the London Guidelines. In 1995, there were 8,500 registrations for first-time import, covering 25,000 products. After investigation, 554 approvals for toxic chemical import were granted by NEPA. The National Coordinating Group for Chemical Safety was organized in the same year to follow the International Conference on Chemical Safety, as well as to implements the London Guidelines. The National Toxic Chemical Assessment Committee was also set up, and the National Archive for Chemical Management was developed to support the environmental management of chemical import and export.

　　According to PIC procedure, existing chemical inventories and the environmental management provisions for chemical import and export, China formulated and issued the Inventory of Toxic Chemicals that are Banned or Strictly Controlled by China. Until now, China has already received more than 1,000 applications for environmental management registration for toxic chemical import and export from home and abroad, and has carried out examinations and followed the PIC procedure accordingly. Presently, to meet the basic articles of the London Guidelines and to en sure the PIC procedure as a legally binding document, negotiations are going on under the auspices of UNEP and FAO. The Chinese Government is taking an active part in it and helping to move the negotiations forward.

　　As to the implementation of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, CITES, the Statement of Forest Principles, and so forth, the information to update activities in these areas will be given by other related ministries.

　　3. Problems in Implementing International Environmental Conventions

　　China is experiencing a period of rapid industrialization. As economic growth continues, serious resource wastage and environmental pollution still characterize development of the economy. Population increases, economic construction and the subsequent growing demand for resource make environmental problems even more striking. To control both the inherited and emerging environmental problems, China still has a long and hard battle to protect the environment. In the context of dramatic economic growth, it has generally been able to prevent the environment al quality from deteriorating as the same rate, and has in fact improved environmental quality in some regions. But as a developing country, our economy is still at a preliminary stage of development so we must remain vigilant.

　　Aside from the many global environmental problems, such as ozone depletion, climate change, biodiversity decrease and marine pollution, China is also confronted by serious environmental problems brought about by its rapid economic development. Such problems are the pollution of water, the pollution of air and disposal o f garbage. These serious problems directly affect the health of the people and smooth development of the economy. The challenge facing China is all the more formidable when we take into consideration its large population limited financial resources and backward technology.

　　In the process of economic development, environmental improvement and implementation of international conventions, China has received a great deal of help and support from international organizations and from many friendly countries. To this, we would like to express our heartfelt gratitude. On the other hand, we look forward to making bigger steps, as the developed countries provide new and additional financial support and transfer environmentally sound technologies to the developing countries. We believe that this is the key to turning the many unsuccessful attempts of the international community collaborative solution of global environmental problems into success stories.

　　There are many difficulties lying before us as we pursue the path of environment and development. We still have long way to go, but we believe that tomorrow would be better and brighter. As we face the future together, China wishes to join hands with the international community to protect the earth, the home of us all.

　　Thank you, Mr. Chairman.