China will select and present awards to the ten people who have made the greatest efforts to fight environmental degradation in the country for the first time this year.

The "Best-Respected Chinese Environmentalists" will be selected from among Chinese citizens and representatives of Chinese governmental departments, enterprises and non-profitable organizations that registered in China, said the organizers.

The award is jointly established by the Outlook Weekly magazine (a division of Xinhua News Agency), the China Forum of Environmental Journalists and the State Environmental Protection Administration.

With the theme of "Government, Enterprise and Public Masses Join Hands in Promoting Environmental Protection," the award will focus on people who made outstanding contribution to curbing pollution, developing resource-saving economy and promoting social equality, according to the organizing committee.

The ten people will come from 100 candidates voted on by the public and selection panel members.

(Xinhua News Agency November 30, 2004)