MEP Minister Zhou Shengxian met with visiting the delegation headed by Mr. Andreas Carlgren, Environment Minister of Sweden, the EU revolving presidency country and Chair of EU Environment Ministers Council in Beijing on July 14. The two sides exchanged their views on topics of common concern such as enhancement of the conservation of biodiversity and prevention and control of mercury pollution.
Minister Zhou first of all welcomed the delegation headed by Minister Carlgren and introduced them the new development of environmental protection work in China. He said, to effectively address international financial crisis, the Chinese Government has carried out a package plan on expanding domestic demand and facilitating fast economic growth. It clearly requires that we should take this crisis as an opportunity for adjusting economic structure and changing development mode and a good opportunity for promoting the cause of environmental protection. It emphasizes that maintaining economic growth cannot be at the cost of the environment. With the adoption of a series of strong measures, China has made a breakthrough in emission reduction. In 2008, the total discharge of COD and SO₂ emissions continued their decline after 2007 when they achieved both reductions for the first time.
Talking about the conservation of biodiversity, Minister Zhou said, the Chinese Government has always attached importance to the conservation of biodiversity and actively taken part in the activities on the Convention on Biological Diversity. It submitted the Fourth National Report on the Implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity in China in March of 2009, which summarizes the measures of China to achieve the 2010 objectives. As for the post-2010 direction and strategic plan of the Convention, we agree the establishment of a target to better promote this activity. Enhancing the capacity of parties to achieve the objective in particular the capacity of developing countries shall be a key component in strategic planning. In the future, we wish to further deepen the cooperation with EU in this field and jointly promote further development of the conservation of biodiversity.
In view of the issue of prevention and control of mercury pollution mentioned by Mr. Carlgren, Minister Zhou said the Chinese Government attaches great importance to the protection of public health and environmental impacts of mercury pollution. The Chinese Government has done a lot in the management, prevention and control of the pollution caused by mercury-containing products and waste with good outcomes. At the 25th UNEP Council Meeting held in February, the Chinese Government supported a resolution on the development of a legally binding instrument on global mercury issue. This fully demonstrates the determination of the Chinese Government in controlling mercury pollution and good wish for strengthening international cooperation. We are willing to cooperate with international communities including EU in the field of controlling mercury pollution and make concerted efforts.
The two sides also discussed such topics as enhancing the management & control of HFCs emissions under the legal framework of climate change and holding the 4th China-EU Environment Ministers Policy Dialogue.
Mr. Carlgren appreciated the environmental protection policy and measures of China during the process of addressing the international financial crisis. He hoped that based on current good cooperation the two sides should further deepen and expand cooperation areas and make greater contributions to global environmental protection.