UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has awarded the Sasakawa Environment Prize to China's Environmental Protection Administration Minister Xie Zhenhua. 

Addressing the awards ceremony, Annan said Xie Zhenhua has made huge efforts for China's sustainable development over the last two decades.

He added that by making sustainable development one of its major goals, China will not only benefit itself but also make a great contribution to world's development.

The Sasakawa Environment Prize is the top UN prize for environmental protection. Another laureate for this year's prize is a Brazilian official in charge of environmental protection.

(CRI November 20, 2003)