"We are gathering here to explore concrete ways of protecting the earth," which is something that is of great importance, Jiang said at the opening ceremony of the High-Level Segment of the 5th Meeting of the Parties to the Vienna Convention and the 11th Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol.

He extended his heartfelt congratulations to the convening of the meeting and a warm welcome to all the delegates and guests who came from different parts of the world.

Environmental issues are of vital importance to the future and fate of every nation and individual on earth, Jiang noted.

He pointed out that it is the common wish of all peoples and the common responsibility of all governments to solve environmental problems so as to create and safeguard a beautiful and prosperous homeland on which to live, and that all countries in the world should fulfill their obligations towards that end.

The Chinese government has always attached great importance to environmental protection, regarding it as a basic state policy, he said. Moreover, China has adopted the strategy of sustainable development, undertaken effective measures for pollution prevention and control and ecological conservation, and promoted the coordinated development of economy and environment, Jiang said.

China is currently exploring a path of sustainable development that suits its special situation, and has accumulated valuable practical experience, according to Jiang.

China takes a responsible attitude towards global environmental protection, and has been making persistent efforts to tackle domestic environmental problems, particularly the abatement of harmful gas emissions, which has not only improved the environmental quality of China but also contributed to global environmental protection, he said.

China has been actively participating in global environmental affairs, has signed a number of international environmental conventions and agreements, conducted extensive exchange and cooperation with various countries in the field of environmental construction, and thus played an active role in promoting international environmental protection, the president said.

"The earth, on which human beings co-exist, and the sky, under which we live, are an integral whole that can not be divided. The protection of them requires the concerted action of all countries, " he said.

In the process of international environmental cooperation, Jiang said, "we need to take full account of the long history of unbalanced economic development among various nations and the special situations of different countries. We should plan comprehensively, strengthen cooperation, coordinate actions, and work in a practical way."

Jiang called on developed countries to fully recognize the historical impact that their development in the past had exerted on the global environment, saying that they "therefore should take on more responsibilities and utilize their economic, scientific and technological advantages to assist developing countries actively in tackling environmental problems."

According to him, developing countries should strengthen environmental protection while developing their economy, and play their due part in global environmental actions.

He pointed out that the successful implementation of the Vienna Convention and the Montreal Protocol has shown once again that, if various countries promote their cooperation on the basis of mutual understanding, the tackling of global environmental problems could be accelerated.

As a developing country, Jiang said, China is willing to bear the international responsibilities and obligations appropriate to its level of development on a fair, just and reasonable basis, and make its contribution to the promotion of global environment and development.

During the past century, Jiang said, mankind has created unprecedented material and spiritual wealth, and the world has undergone significant transformation, which will provide historical opportunities for all to make greater progress in the new century.

However, he pointed out, it should also be noted that the living and development of mankind will be faced with many severe challenges.

"People of different nations should join hands, take concerted actions, and work hard in order to achieve permanent peace of the world and a beautiful future in which all countries enjoy prosperity," Jiang concluded.

Also present at the opening ceremony were Wen Jiabao, vice premier of the State Council, Jia Qinglin, member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Secretary of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee, and Xie Zhenhua, director of the State Environmental Protection Administration, and other senior officials.

Shafqat Kakakhel, deputy executive director of United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP), said in his speech that President Jiang's presence is an indication of the great importance China attaches to environmental protection and to the protection of the ozone layer.

"His words of wisdom will be a source of inspiration to our deliberation at this meeting," he said.

Kakakhel highly commended China's colossal endeavor to eradicate poverty and achieve economic progress. "Coherent environmental policy must stand alongside economic development and social responsibility to meet the challenge of sustainable development and the challenge of globalization," he said.

Vassily Tselikov, president of the 4th Conference of the Parties to the Vienna Convention and the 10th Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol, also addressed the ceremony.

Reviewing the progress achieved by the previous meetings in protecting the ozone layer, he called for all relevant parties to continue their support for the conference as well as for the multilateral fund for protecting the ozone layer.

K. Madhava Sarma, executive secretary of the UNEP ozone convention secretariat, presided over the opening ceremony.

The international conference on ozone layer protection which opened here on November 29, has been attended by nearly 1,000 representative from 212 countries and international organizations, and is the largest international conference on environmental protection that China has hosted so far.

China joined the Vienna Convention in September 1989, and the London Amendment of the Montreal Protocol in June 1991. In recent years, China has made active efforts in protecting the ozone layer, and achieved significant progress. (Xinhua)