The High-Level Forum on Global Environmental Cooperation with the theme "Responsibility, Win-win and development" opened in Beijing on September 14. MEP Minister Zhou Shengxian attended the Forum and presented a keynote speech. He said, facing grave situation of global environmental protection. Willing to enhance cooperation with international communities with mutual help and promotion, more responsible attitude and practical action, China is going to write a new chapter on global environmental cooperation and striving for more beautiful future for mankind.
Minister Zhou said, the Chinese Government has always attached great importance to environmental protection, taken environmental protection as a basic national policy and regarded sustainable development as a national strategy. In particular, the Chinese Government put forward a series of new ideas like the development of ecological culture, promotion of the historic transformations of environmental protection, ecological rehabilitation of rivers & lakes and exploration of new path of environmental protection with Chinese characteristics over the past few years. Great transformations occurred in understanding and practice of environmental protection with evident achievements reflected by continuous reduction of the discharge of main pollutants. COD discharge and SO₂ emission went down by 6.61% and 8.95% respectively during 2006~2008 and decreased by 2.46% and 5.4% respectively in the first 6-month of this year compared with the same period of last year. It is expected that SO₂ emission reduction target during the "11th Five-Years" could be met one year ahead of schedule and COD reduction target be met according to the schedule. Energy consumption further goes down. The energy consumption per unit GDP went down by10.08% during 2006~2008. It decreased by 3.35% in the first 6-month of this year compared with the same period of last year. The accumulated energy saving is 290 million t coal equivalent over the past 3 years, equivalent to the reduction of 660 million t CO₂. The quality of the environment enjoys continuous improvement. The water quality of all river basins had some improvement in 2008. The permanganate value of surface water for the first time met Grade Ⅲ national water quality standard. The average air SO₂ concentration in key cities on environmental protection of China went down by 15.8 percentage points compared with that of 2005.
Minister Zhou said, with these achievements, we also clearly understanding that environmental situation in China is still very serious. As the biggest developing country in the world, China will benefit its 1.3 billion people and make important contributions to global environmental protection cause if it does well its environmental protection work and improves the environment. To this end, the Chinese Government attaches great importance to international environmental cooperation, adheres the principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities", should the responsibility and obligation compatible with its development level, actively global environmental affairs and support the international communities to take actions for global sustainable development and environmental protection. China has been the parties of many international environmental conventions involving such areas as the protection of ozone layer, chemicals and hazardous waste, climate change, biodiversity conservation and nuclear & radiation safety. At the same time, China has set up and improved the management mechanism for the implementation of the conventions, developed and revised relevant laws with smooth progress in the implementation activities. For example, China has set up the national leading group on climate change with Premier Wen Jiabao as the group leader; developed the National Program on Climate Change; identified the 20% reduction of energy consumption per unit GDP, 10% of renewable energy in total energy mix and 20% forest coverage during the "11th Five-Year Plan" period. China has accelerated the phasing out of HFC and halon and met the target of implementing relevant conventions 2.5 years ahead of schedule. It is expected that China will 100% phase out four kinds of major ODS by the end of 2009. China has developed the National Implementation Plan for the Stockholm Convention and made more efforts in reducing and controlling the emission of POPs. It stopped the production, utilization, import & export of 9 kinds of pesticide POPs including DDT on May 17, 2009 in an all round way, which met the stage target of the convention. In addition, China has issued the Action Plan of China on the Conservation of Biodiversity. Up to the end of 2008, the area of land nature reserves took about 15% of total land area of China. The population of wildlife under national key protection program is rising.
Minister Zhou said, the Earth is the common home of mankind. Addressing environmental problems needs the cooperation and mutual help of each country in the world. Under current international financial crisis, there is huge potential for the enhancement of international environment cooperation. We should carry out wide and in-depth exchanges and cooperation in such fields as green economic policy, environmental financial input, project development, development & transfer of technology and capacity building in order to strengthen the feasibility, relevance and effectiveness of international environment cooperation. With more active and responsible attitude and practical action, we will jointly study the solutions to global environmental problems, facilitate fast development of green economy and green industries and strive for a more beautiful future for mankind.
After that, Minister Zhou Shengxian, Ms. Stefania Prestigiacomo, Italian Minister on the Environment, Land and Oceans and Mr. Husamuddin Ahmadzai, Chairman of Executive Committee of the Multilateral Fund of the Montreal Protocol jointly unveiled the plate for the Environment Conventions Building.
The Forum was chaired by MEP Vice Minister Li Ganjie.
MEP Vice Minister Zhou Jian, Mr. Harviz, Vice Secretary General of the Secretariat of the Convention on the Protection of Ozone Layer and Mr. Tang Xiaoyan, Academician of Chinese Academy of Engineering also attended the Forum.