Development of West Not at Cost of Ecological EnvironmentA senior lawmaker stressed on April 20 that China will balance economic growth and environmental protection in the massive western development plan.Zou Jiahua, Vice-Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) made the remarks at a meeting on environmental protection. Zou said the introduction of foreign technology, arrangement of cooperative programs between the coastal and western regions as well as the local development programs will not be launched at the cost of the environment in the western regions. He believed that the development of the west will push ahead the country's economic and social growth. And though the western region has a shortage of water and is seeing worsening natural conditions compared with the coastal areas, the development of the west should focus on both building a brisk economy and improving the environment. Zou emphasized that the western development requires the strong support of the coastal areas, and the coastal areas also need a larger market for their own further growth. He said that if the environment in the west is destroyed, this will not only hinder the development of the west, it will ultimately have a negative impact on the coastal areas. During the development of the west, local governments will not only solve the ongoing pollution problems, but also pay more attention to the prevention of new pollution sources and improvement of the environment, Zou said. He added that the protection of virgin forests, afforestation, and rational development of water resources should hinge on advancement of science and technology. |
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