China has cut the use of ozone-depleting substances (ODS) by a total of 50,000 tons since 1991, thanks to the financial support from a multilateral international fund and efforts made by the Chinese government and 200 enterprises involved in the work.

According to a senior official with the State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA), in the past few years, China has received a total of 445 million US dollars in donations from a multilateral international fund for programs to protect the ozone layer.

SEPA Director Xie Zhenhua, speaking today at the 29th Conference of the Executive Committee of the Multilateral Fund, said China has achieved its target of halting the ODS output and consumption set for 1999.

The fund was set up by developed countries from the Parties to the Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer to help developing countries phase out ODS production and consumption over a set period.

Despite its marked progress, China still faces numerous difficulties and challenges in reaching its ODS substitution targets set for 2005 and 2010, Xie said.

According to official estimates, China needs a total of 860 million US dollars for its ozone-layer protection programs.

In 1987, the international community worked out the Montreal protocol, which has 168 signatories, including China. (Xinhua)