China Selects Winners of Environmental Award

A ceremony was held at the Great Hall of the People in the nation's capital Wednesday to start the selection of the first winners of the "Chinese Environmental Award" to be issued by the Chinese Environmental Protection Foundation.

Zou Jiahua, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), sent his letter of congratulation for the event.

Qu Geping, chairman of the NPC Environmental and Resources Protection Committee and chairman of the board of directors of the foundation, addressed the ceremony, expressing his hope that the award will bring new vitality to the country's environmental cause.

The award aims to encourage institutions and individuals to contribute to environmental protection in China, Qu noted.

Wang Yuqing, deputy director of the State Environmental Protection Administration, said the award will be granted every two years to qualified recipients regardless of their nationality, region, ethnic group and beliefs.

No more than five winners will be selected each time and each of the recipients will be granted 100,000 yuan. Meanwhile, a number of nominees will also be selected and given 10,000 yuan each. The first winners of the award will be announced next June.

At today's ceremony, Changban Elementary School of Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province, published a proposal urging Chinese youth to participate in environmental activities.



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