Legislator Stresses Development of Environmental ProtectionChina must adopt a new market system for making better use of environmental protection facilities and boosting the development of the environmental protection industry, said Zou Jiahua, vice-chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee.Zou made the remarks during an investigative trip, September 14-20, concerning environmental protection in northeast China's Liaoning Province. He visited an ecological agriculture zone and some local enterprises that deal with sewage treatment, pollution control, and high technologies. Zou said Liaoning, a traditional industrial base in China, has made considerable contributions to the country economic development. But the province is still facing a difficult task in environmental protection and pollution control. "It's a common sense that we have only one earth," he said. "Pollution will cause a direct threat to the existence of human beings." While developing the economy, attention must be paid to environmental protection and pollution control, Zou pointed out. For a long time in China, investment in urban sewage treatment facilities mainly comes from the government. This government-sponsored activity must be transferred to a system of commercial management and market operation. The scale of sewage treatment plants should adjust to local practical situations, and the plants can sell the treated water at reasonable price to make a profit, he suggested. He also called government departments concerned to intensify their efforts to make laws on environmental protection better known to the general public while doing their best in law enforcement. |
| People's Daily Online --- http://www.peopledaily.com.cn/english/ |