The third meeting of the second phase of the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development (hereby referred to as "the Council") was held in Beijing, October 19 to 21, 1999. Participating in the meeting were 45 Chinese and international members, 11 working group cochairs, 11 special guests and 33 observers. Mr. Wen Jiabao, Chairman of the Council, and Madame Labelle, Mr. Qu Geping, Mr. Liu Jiang and Mr. Xie Zhenhua, ViceChairmen of the Council, chaired the meeting respectively.

　　Premier Zhu Rongji met with the Chinese and international members, and working group cochairs attending this year's Council meeting. Premier Zhu listened attentively to the presentations by ViceChair Madame Labelle and four other representatives. Premier Zhu expressed his sincere welcome and appreciation. He also hoped that the Council could make even greater contributions to China's environment and development. (Please refer to Premier Zhu Rongji's speech for details.).　Mr. Wen Jiabao, Chairman of the Council, addressed the opening ceremony of this year's meeting. He noted that despite the tremendous progress China has achieved in its economy, social development and environmental protection, China is still faced with a serious environmental situation. To basically curb environmental pollution calls for the persistent efforts of the country. He also stressed that China must stick to the path of sustainable development and strive for the coordinated development of economy and environment in its socialist modernization drive. Greater attention should be paid to environmental protection in making the mid and longterm plans. He commended the Council for its efforts, ever since its establishment, in playing a significant role in promoting environment and development in China. Chairman Wen Jiabao expressed his sincere hope that the Council could continue with its research and study to offer advice and recommendations and put forth suggestions for the longterm development in China. 

　　The meeting issued special invitations to Mr. Maurice Strong, Secretary General of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in 1992, Secretary General of the United Nations Conference on Human Environment in 1972 and Former Under Secretary General of the United Nations, and Mr. Zheng Xinli, Deputy Secretary General of the State Development Planning Commission, to deliver keynote speeches. There was also a general debate session, which focused on "the priority issues that China should pay high attention to in its formulation of the Tenth Fiveyear plan". Work reports by the Secretary General as well as the working groups (and task force) of Energy Strategy and Technology, Cleaner Production, Environmental Protection and Economic Planning, Environment and Transportation were reviewed. Representatives from ministries and departments, such as the Ministry of Agriculture, State Environmental Protection Administration, State Power Corporation, and various provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities, such as Jilin, Inner Mongolia, Shanghai, Jiangsu and Taiyuan, all made their presentations during the meeting. Written speeches on the implementation of international conventions by the State Environmental Protection Administration and the State Forestry Bureau were distributed. ViceChair Xie Zhenhua, on behalf of the bureau, addressed the meeting in his closing remarks.

　　The meeting approved the work reports and nextstage work plans of the nine working groups and task forces, and required them to strive for greater achievements in light of the needs of China's environment and development. It was suggested that the working groups and task forces conduct further indepth studies of the prominent problems in their own fields, strengthening the coordination and cooperation among working groups and also with the local authorities, and actively promoting policy and project demonstrations. During the discussion, many Chinese and international members voiced their concern for China's investment in other countries (like Malaysia) on wood forests and China's domestic afforestation plans.

　　The meeting raised detailed comments and suggestions on the revision of the Council's Recommendations to the Chinese Government (draft). It entrusted the Recommendations Drafting Committee and the Secretariat to make necessary revisions based on the suggestions raised. The final version of the recommendations will be reported to the State Council and then distributed among all the relevant ministries and departments. It is a strong hope, shared by all the participants, that the Chinese government could consider and adopt the recommendations in its formulation of the Tenth Five Year Plan. 

　　Before the meeting was convened, some international members, in the company of Vice Chair Xie Zhenhua, visited Xiamen, one of China's Environmental Protection Model Cities. This was suggested by Premier Zhu Rongji during his meeting with the Council last year. 

　　The members all had a deep impression of Xiamen's achievements in implementing sustainable development in the city, which just recently suffered damage from typhoon. 

　　The meeting also adopted the adjustment of Council members and working group co chairs. Dr. Maritta KochWeser and Mr. Mans Lonnroth are this year's new Council members. Dr. Rudolf Peterson, Mr. Peter Schei and Mr. Tsugio Ide were named respectively the CoChair of the Environment and Transportation Working Group, Biodiversity Working Group and Cleaner Production Working Group. 