Restrict China's Development, Unfair, Says UNEP Official

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, July 25, 2003

Restrict China's Development, Unfair, Says UNEP Official

A special interview was made to meet the reporter of China's Xinhua News Agency by Teopfer, Executive Director of United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) on July 21 in Nairobi. China is active in finding out ways for sustainable development not only in principle but also in practice, he pointed out, so it is very unfair to restrict China's development. On the issue of the sustainable development of the world, the developed countries should do more about it.

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A special interview was made to meet the reporter of China's Xinhua by Teopfer, Executive Director of United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) on July 21 in Nairobi. China is active in finding out ways for sustainable development not only in principle but also in practice, he pointed out, so it is very unfair to restrict China's development. On the issue of the sustainable development of the world, the developed countries should do more about it.

At the meeting of UNEP held in last February, Xie Zhenghua, Director of State Environmental Protection Administration of China put forward China's stand on changing the production and consumption patterns of unsustainable development and emphasized the common but different responsibilities among various countries in the world, he said, China has been actively sorting ways of development featuring high technology, high efficiency, low energy consumption and no pollution both in principle and in practice. China can set an example for other countries in the field of eliminating poverty by way of effective development. This is the basis of the stand towards the issue of changing the production and consumption patterns of unsustainable development.

Someone has misinterpreted his point of view recently, he said. According to him, China should get the equal space and chance for its own development, and the developing countries should have the rights to create ways for their own development. "It is unfair to restrict China's development space, and the developed countries should do more on the issue of sustainable development". He said, for example, an American child consumes resources 50 times more than that of a child of a developing country. This production and consumption pattern should be changed, and every country and every person should enjoy the equal opportunity for development.

The cooperation between China and UNEP and himself is close and effective, he mentioned, and there are cooperation projects between them, such as the flood-control and environmental protection projects along the Yangtze River and the comprehensive project for taming the sandstorms. He expected to visit China in the coming September and to attend the opening ceremony of the UNEP Beijing office.

Finally, He said with a feeling deeply touched, "we share this wonderful world, and we are paddling the same boat. So we must pull together in times of difficulties and I hope China's experience in her development would be able to benefit the whole world."

By PD Online Staff Liu Wei

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