SHANGHAI, November 6 (Xinhua)-- A Sino-Japanese Workshop opened today to promote environmental protection.

Japanese entrepreneurs said that both countries should further expand their cooperation on environmental protection, adding that Japan can provide more experience, technology and funds.

There have been frequent academic, technological and business exchanges on issues pertaining to protecting the environment in China. Workshops have been held many times in major cities around the country.

With environmental protection designated as a new economic growth industry, China has signed and approved more than 20 international conventions and also signed over 30 agreements with 27 countries.

Shanghai is presently leading the way. In 1998, Shanghai spent more than one million yuan on environmental protection, accounting for 2.8 percent of Shanghai's GDP, said Lu Shuping, director of the Shanghai Environmental Protection Bureau. (Xinhua)