Senior Official Calls for More Efforts to Protect EnvironmentChinese Vice-premier Wen Jiabao has called for more efforts to curb water and air pollution, protect the environment and promote sustainable development.During a recent discussion with 12 experts specializing in environmental science, the vice-premier said more efforts are needed, including legal, economic, administrative and technical measures, to step up pollution control and environmental protection as they relate to sustainable economic and social development. During the discussion, each of the 12 experts with the Chinese Academy of Environmental Science made presentations on pollution control in lakes, rivers, coastal areas, management of toxic chemicals, air pollution in urban areas, environment and international trade as well as environment monitoring. After listening to the presentation, the vice-premier said the environmental situation facing China remains critical despite progress in the recent years. He defined environmental protection in the coming five years as continuing to be a major policy for China in its drive to coordinate economic, social development and environmental protection, said the vice-premier. He said efforts should be made to ensure major pollution control programs are completed as planned, including those to curb water pollution in China's most polluted rivers and lakes, and air pollution in Beijing. Among those to be on the agenda of the central government are environment protection in the Three Gorge Reservoir area, and pollution control and prevention for the project to divert fresh water from the Yangtze River to northern China. |
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