China, US Sign Environment Protection ContractChina and the United States signed a contract in Beijing Monday for the Sino-US phase II project on air-quality monitoring.According to the contract, the US will offer $13.44 million in preferential loans to China so the country can buy air quality monitoring equipment from the American company Dasibi Environmental Corporation, for 33 major Chinese cities to use in making air quality daily reports and forecasting. During Chinese President Jiang Zemin's 1997 visit to the US the two countries signed an agreement calling for strengthening Cooperation in environmental protection and energy. US President Bill Clinton reciprocated President Jiang's visit in 1998, during which the two countries signed a contract on the Sino-US phase I project for air-quality monitoring. Zhu Guangyao, deputy director of China's State Environmental Protection Administration, said at the signing ceremony that the promotion of cooperation between the two nations in the area of environmental protection is in the interests of both countries, and will also be of significance for the improvement of the global environment. He said he hopes the two sides will further expand economic and technological cooperation in this area, thus making a contribution to the comprehensive development of Sino-US friendship and cooperation. Eugene Martin, minister-counselor of the US embassy in Beijing, said at the occasion that the signing of the contract marks a step forward in bilateral cooperation in environmental protection, and a success for a US company to enter China's huge market. He also praised China's environmental protection efforts. |
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