Vice-Premier Zeng Peiyan has called on experts from around the world to help the Chinese Government develop the nation's environment protection.

Zeng said he wanted the experts to pay close attention to China's 11th Five-Year Plan (2006-10).

"The role of the council should be given full play," he told delegates yesterday attending the third meeting of the Third Phase of the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development.

The council, established by the State Council of China in 1992, is a high-level non-governmental advisory body that aims to strengthen cooperation and exchanges between China and the international community on environmental and development issues.

Zeng is currently the council's chairman.

The focus of this year's meeting, which opened on Friday, was sustainable agriculture and rural development.

Recommendations proposed by the council on sustainable agriculture and rural development are very helpful to the Chinese Government, Zeng said.

"Such suggestions include creating a new rural development framework in China, which involves an increase of investment in education and science and technology in rural areas," said Xie Zhenhua, minister of the State Environmental Protection Administration and also a vice-chairman of the council.

Developing new ecological and economic-based national strategies for integrated water management were also discussed.

Despite achievements already made, Zeng said the contradiction between environment and development in China is still noticeable.

Environmental protection in cities will still be the emphasis in the future, while measures will be taken to improve rural environment.

In rural areas, eco-agriculture will be developed and scientific use of chemical fertilizer be promoted.

Pollution control in major regions which are densely populated, including the Huaihe River region, will be increased while the protection of the vulnerable environment in the western region be strengthened.

"Different control plans will be implemented accordingly in different regions," said Zeng.

Meanwhile, the discharge of pollutants in the country will be strictly controlled, he added.

Outdated techniques will continue to be phased out, clean production promoted, and projects that are seriously polluting and energy-killing erased.

"International cooperation in environmental protection will be reinforced," Zeng said.

China will introduce advanced techniques and management methods and implement international environmental protection conventions, he added.

(China Daily November 1, 2004)