Respected Mr. Chairman,

　　Members, Ladies and Gentlemen

　　I am pleased to have the opportunity to attend the first meeting of the second phase of the china council for international cooperation on Environment and Development. First of all, I would like to extend my congratulations and my thanks to all members and experts of the council for their contribution to the environment and development cause in china, as well as for their efforts promoting inter national cooperation on behalf of the china meteorological Administration.

　　The United Nations Framework convention on climate change (hereafter referred to as FCCC) is an important and concrete action taken by the international community to protect the environment and global climate. Since its entry into force on M arch 21, 1994, great progress has been made in achieving the goal set by the United Nations conference on Environment and Development in 1992. At present, there are more than 160partiesto the FCCC.

　　China attaches great importance to the FCCC and its related work. Under the leadership of the State Council and through the coordination of the China National Coordination Group on Climate Change, effective work has been done in many aspects. Here, I would like to take this opportunity to give you an overview of the activities that China has taken to implement the FCCC so that you can have a better idea of the situation China, I would also appreciate it if the intentional organizations concerned could continue to support the implementation of the FCCC in China.

　　1.Implementing the sustainable Development strategy and Further strengthening the protection of Environment and Global Climate

　　Climate is the most active component and most important natural resource in the environment of human existence. If dramatic climate change occurs, it will produce tremendous and far-reaching impact on the human social and economic system as w ell as the natural ecological system. Just as State Councilor Song Jian said when he was meeting with members of the Climate Appraisal and Consultancy Committee of the China Meteorological Administration in Appraisal and consultancy Commit tee of the China Meteorological Administration in April this year, climate is an important factor affecting sustainable development. Therefore, to protect and utilize global climate and to prevent the dangerous anthropogenic intervention to t he climate system is one of the important issues facing the international community and the governments of the various countries in implementing the sustainable development strategy and achieving the goals set in the FCCC.

　　At the Fifth Meeting of the first Phase of the Council last year, the China Meteorological Administration reported to members of this Council that China pays great attention to the coordination reported to members of this Council that China pays resources and environment in its effort to promote economic development. Sustainable development has been considered as one of the two important strategies in the long tern development in the future. At the same, the protection of environment and global climate is considered an important task in the implementation of the sustainable development strategy.

　　At present, the China Meteorological Administration has finished the formulation of the Meteorological Action plan of Agenda 21 of China. It was formulated in accordance with the China's Agenda 21, the Ninth Five -year plan of the National Economic and Social Development to the Year 2010. It elaborated on the sustainable development strategy and important actions in meteorology in china. It also puts forward some important work related to the implementation of the FCCC including improving the Chinese climate observing and monitoring system, conducting climate and climate change research, and strengthening the coordination of the implementation of the FCCC.

　　In addition, there are also many other related programmes and projects that are being implemented, such as the Development Outline on New Energy and Renewable Energy from 1996 to 2010,China's Green Light project and so on. All these programmes and projects have items of implementing the development strategy and the protection of environment and global climate such as saving energy, and developing new and renewable energy.

　　2.strengthening Observation and Research of the Climate System, and Reducing the Uncertainties in climate change

　　The scientific assessment of climate change and its impact is and important item in the implementation of the FCCC. The FCCC has specially included articles such as "Research and system Observation" since the last meeting of the council, China has made achievements in the following aspects, as outlined below.

　　Short Term Climate prediction

　　The Research on short-term climate prediction system in China, which is an important item in the key projects in the scientific scientific research during the Ninth Five-year plan period, has already started. Based on the research on rules of climate anomaly in china and the research on prediction signals, this research will lead to the establishment of the monthly, seasonal, seasonal, and annual short term climate monitoring and prediction system, as well as the assessment system on the impact of climate anomaly to the national economy, At the same time climate prediction operational system", which provides hardware and the basic facilities for the above system, is expected to be approved.

　　The successful Launch of the First GMS, FY2

　　On June 10, the geostationary meteorological satellite (GMS) that was manufactured in China was successfully launched. On June17, the satellite was accurately positioned in a pre-set orbit above the equator at the 105 degrees east longitude. The checkout has been completed. It will be handed over for operational use. The successful launch, accurate positioning and the operational use of the FY2 symbolizes a great leap forward in the earth environmental sounding technology in China. It will greatly improve our capabilities of monitoring weather and climate system. The satellite data so obtained will greatly promote the research on climate change and environmental research work in this country.

　　The Establishment of the GCOS china Committee

　　In order to systematically monitor climate system, China set up the GCOS china committee on July 4 under the care and guidance of the state council of China. This action is also intended to strengthen the interrelationship, coordination and integration of the existing atmospheric sounding system, the oceanographic observing system, the environmental monitoring system, the hydrological monitoring system, and the terrestrial ecological monitoring, system. The GCOS china committee consists of 13 ministries, commissions and administrations under the state council. Its general office is located in the china Meteorological Administration, The establishment of the committee can further integrate and improve the climate monitoring system in china and climate change monitoring, prediction and service levels in the related fields.

　　The committee's work is of great significance to the fulfillment of the obligations included in the Research and systems Observations in the FCCC, to the promotion of the economic development in China,. and to its coordination with environment and resources.

　　3.Education, Training, and public Awareness

　　The FCCC requests parties to carry out activities of education and training and of the enhancement of public awareness relating to the field of climate change. This is a crucial part in the realization of the ultimate goal set by the FCCC.

　　In the past period, Chinese media such as Chinese Central TV, the People's Daily and the Scientific and Technological Daily gave publicity to the issue of climate change. This was done by putting out many new columns to introduce the domestic efforts of China in addressing the issue of climate change and the results of important international meetings.

　　Moreover, many publications about climate change issues have come out in China. It includes, in particular, some important and study reports contributed by the Office of the China National Coordinating Group on climate change and its subordinate working groups. The reports are "Global climate change and China's Efforts", " Studies on Climate Change and Its Impacts in China", "The Concepts of Per Capita GHG Emission and Its Relationships with Sustainable Development and Mitigation Obligations", and "The Scientific Uncertainties in the Global Climate Change Research and the List of the Research Project". Through these works, social communities have deepened their understanding, and enhanced their awareness, of the issue of climate change The public has also come to know the possible impacts of climate change on the social and economic development of agriculture, forestry, water resources, energy, and so forth. As a result, the public has begun to understand the tremendous efforts made and significant achievements obtained by China in protecting environment and global climate

　　4.The preparation of Initial National Communication, the promotion of technology transfer from developed countries to developing countries, and the involvement pi lot phase of Activities Implemented Jointly (ALJ)

　　It is provided by the FCCC that each party should submit information to the Conference of Parties (COP) on the implementation of the FCCC commitments, which includes the national inventories on sources of GHG emission and the removal of sinks, the general description of the steps taken and envisaged to implement the FCCC, and other related information as well, It is also provided that the developing country Parities should submit their first Communication within three years after the FCCC comes into force for that party, or within three years after they get t he funding required.

　　Although China has not yet received the financial support from the Global Environmental Facility, an interim financial mechanism under the FCCC, it has already s et out preparations, At present, contact with related international agencies is being made by China, in order to make the fund available at an early date, then to start the preparation of the Initial National Communication and submit it as early as possible.

　　The preparation of Initial National Communication is a governmental behaviour of China to implement Paragraph one, Article twelve of the FCCC, This work proceeded under the guidance of the China National Coordinating Group on Climate Change, with China Meteorological Administration in charge of the organizational work an d with member agencies of the coordinating group and concerned research and teaching institutions participating.

　　Furthermore, as required by the FCCC, the developed country Parties should transfer technologies and technical know-how to the developing country Parties, enabling them to perform their obligations under the FCCC, To push forward this process, in December 1996 China submitted to the Secretariat of the FCCC a list of technologies needed to be transferred to the developing countries.

　　COPI/FCCC decided to start the pilot phase of AIJ and encouraged the developing countries to participate on a voluntary basis, To explore the implications and t he mechanisms of AIJ, China is now contacting concerned countries, and is ready t o carry out the projects in the pilot phase of AIJ in a selective and purposeful way.

　　5. Participation in the Activities of the Subsidiary Body of the FCCC

　　In the past year, China actively participated in the sessions of the subsidiary body of the FCCC and played an active role in the process of negotiating the obligations of the developed countries after the year 2000 and in the process of preparation for COP III

　　For a long time, human activities in the process of industrialization have resulted in a rapid increase in the concentration of CO2 and other greenhouses gases in the atmosphere, The largest portion of global greenhouse gas emission, both historically and at present, originate from developed countries. Take 1996 as an example; CO2 emissions from the developed countries and countries in economic transitions accounted for 64% of the global total. Consequently, the difference of the per capita emission of gases between developed and developing countries became much larger.

　　In this connection, we hope that, in addressing the issue of climate change, including discussions to be held at COP III in Kyoto, Japan, this year, the developed countries could be able to take feasible actions to implement their commitments under FCCC, to promote international communities in the achievement of new pr ogress in their efforts of protecting the environment and global climate, and to reach the ultimate goal of the FCCC.

　　Mr. Chairman, Members, Ladies and Gentlemen,

　　Lastly, I would like to conclude my remarks about the implementation of UNFCCC o f China in quoting the words of Professor Song Jian, the State Councilor, at the 19th Special Session of UN General Assembly in considering the issue of environment and development. Professor Song said that strengthening international cooperation is the only choice to fulfill the historical duties of global sustainable development. In order to achieve an effective result in this aspect, we must bear in mind that development and environment are closely related with each other and we must take into full account the special conditions and requirements of developing countries and shoulder the "common but differentiated responsibilities ".

　　Human development and progress requires us to join hand-in-hand, make concerted efforts to set up an effective and new global partnerships, overcome difficulties, and realize the ultimate sustainable development in the process of implementing Agenda 21.

　　Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you everybody.