Nobel Peace Laureate, Kenyan environmentalist Wangari Maathai praised China for its work in protecting the economy Thursday in Kenyan capital Nairobi.

"China, with some 1.3 billion people, has been able to enjoy peace and at the same time to develop economy and to protect the environment. They (the Chinese people) are showing the way, the capacity of balancing the three issues," Maathai said after receiving a congratulatory message for her October award from Xie Zhenhua, head of the State Environmental Protection Administration of China.

She said China set a good example in environmental protection, and Kenya would also like to foster stronger ties with China on the sector, adding that each country has its own challenges of environment.

"It is also quite evidently that this (Nobel) award to you is a demonstration of increasing importance to the environmental protection attached by the international community, which will further encourage the humanity's enthusiasm and zeal for protecting our common homeland, the earth," said Xie, whose message was forwarded by the Chinese Ambassador to Kenya Guo Chongli.

Saying it was the first time the prize honored work to preserve the environment, Maathai said many wars in the world today are over the natural resources, so the management of natural resources is very important to the promotion of peace.

Maathai presented a young Podo tree to the Chinese ambassador who pledged to plant it in the embassy's garden.

China and Kenya continue to build on their warm and cordial relations, including cooperation on environmental protection, and such relations are bound to be further enhanced through joint efforts of both sides, Xie said in his message.

"China has been enjoying long-standing and sound friendly relations of exchange and cooperation with Kenya. We are very keen in furthering the cooperation with Kenya on environmental protection and sharing each other's experience so as to jointly explore the sustainable development path accommodating to the developing countries," Xie said.

Maathai, Kenyan Assistant Minister for Environment and Natural Resources, won the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize, the Norwegian Nobel committee announced in October.

Maathai founded the Green Belt movement in Kenya in 1977, which has planted more than 30 million trees to prevent soil erosion and provide firewood for cooking fires.

According to the Nobel committee, Maathai won the honor "for her contribution to sustainable development, democracy and peace."

(Xinhua News Agency December 3, 2004)