Creating a resource-efficient society

Source:

03-12-2006 14:08

China says it will step up efforts to create a resource-efficient, environmentally friendly society. That's according to the Ministry of Land and Resources, the State Environmental Protection Administration and the State Development and Reform Commission.

The minister of China's Environmental Protection Administration Zhou Shengxian says the Songhua River, which was contaminated with chemicals last year, is now safe. He says water tests have showed positive results.

Zhou said: "There are three steps in our work. First, to ensure people along the Songhua River have safe water to drink. This has been achieved. The second step is about the environmental assessment of the Songhua River. The outcome of the assessment, done by hundreds of environmental experts, is that, the fish in the river is safe to eat, dairy products in the river region are safe to eat. The agriculture, husbandry alongside the river won't be affected. And the final conclusion is that Songhua River won't be polluted this spring."

The Songhua River was seriously polluted last November after an explosion at a petrochemical plant on the upper reaches of the river. Minister Zhou says China and Russia have been working closely together to monitor the water quality. China has taken three measures to curb pollution in the river, and is planning a long-term project to improve conditions.

Minister Zhou says China is strengthening supervision and monitoring of chemical factories located near rivers, lakes, reservoirs and other water areas. He says the government has worked out a basic scheme to solve the question.

Meanwhile the State Development and Reform Commission says the government is determined to reduce energy consumption per unit of GDP by 20% by the end of 2010. The government will adopt several measures to achieve this ambitious goal.

Jiang Weixin says China will save energy by other measures including improving the pricing, fiscal, and tax systems. The government will also strengthen its management in these areas.

Vice minister of Land and Resources Li Yuan talked about farmland protection, and said China will strengthen the management and conservation of farmland. He said all fees levied from new construction land leases will be invested in farm land protection.

The heads of the three government departments also talked about issues concerning energy prices, and mineral resources development.

Editor:Wang Ping