Vice Minister of Environmental Protection Li Ganjie met with a delegation headed by Chair of EU Chamber of Commerce Joerg Wuttke on Mar. 27. They exchanged views on enhancing cooperation in the field of environmental protection.

Li Ganjie briefed the guests on China's environmental protection. He said, at the 6th National Congress of Environmental Protection in 2006, Premier Wen Jiabao demanded a historic transformation to be made in the field of environmental protection, which marked a new stage of optimizing economic growth through environmental protection. The 17th National Congress of CPC held last year put environmental protection in a more important strategic position and proposed to establish conservation culture. This signifies that environmental protection, a basic state policy, has become the mainstream of national economic and social development. To further enhance environmental protection, the just-concluded 1st session of the 11th NPC decided to form Ministry of Environmental Protection, which fully reflected the firm determination of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council to intensify environmental protection and promote scientific development.

Li Ganjie said, "according to the decision and arrangement of the CPC Central Committee, the joint efforts of all circles have resulted in major progress in pollution reduction in 2007 even though the economy sustained rapid growth. The total discharge of two major pollutants decreased for the first time. However, we are also fully aware of the stern situation facing China's environmental protection and the daunting task to achieve our target. Not only more of our own efforts are needed, but also increased international exchanges and cooperation. I am very delighted to see the EU Chamber of Commerce offered a lot of constructive advice and proposals on China's environmental protection and I hope it will make more contribution to promoting bilateral environmental cooperation.

Joerg Wuttke expressed his appreciation and congratulations for the establishment of Ministry of Environmental Protection. He hoped both sides would expand areas for cooperation, improve the cooperative mechanism and keep on advancing the development of environmental protection.

The working groups on environment, automobile, construction and energy from EU Chamber of Commerce also made recommendations respectively to Vice Minister Li Ganjie on China's environmental protection.