An international exhibition on ozone-friendly technology and products opened in Beijing on the morning of November 29, attended by world heavyweights in the field including the United Nations Development Program, the United Nations Environment Program, the United Nations Industry and Development Organization, the World Bank, and the State Environmental Protection Administration of China.

About 60 companies, environmental organizations, research institutes and manufacturing enterprises from the United States, Germany and China also participated in the five-day event.

The exhibition is in conjunction with the ongoing 11th Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol to showcase the world's latest developments in technology and products designed to protect the ozone layer.

With the theme of controlling ozone-depleting substances, the exhibition covers such sectors and products as refrigeration, air conditioning for automobiles, domestic and commercial refrigeration, foam, tobacco and cigarette manufacturing, aerosol sprays, fire extinguishers, and solvent and chemical production.

Xie Zhenhua, director of China's State Environmental Protection Administration, and Shafqat Kakakhel, deputy executive director of the United Nations Environment Program, attended the opening ceremony.

"Visiting the Chinese exhibition booth, participants could see the achievements made by China in the development of ozone-friendly technology and products through the hard efforts of the

Chinese government and enterprises and the support of the international community," Xie said at the ceremony.

The exhibition also provides an opportunity for domestic and international exhibitors to explore potential for cooperation and market expansion, Xie said.

Xie expressed the hope that China could speed up technological renovation and transformation through various forms of international cooperation, and further promote the development of alternative products and technology. (Xinhua)