China's Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Yesui on Wednesday said China supports efforts to improve global environmental protection to achieve sustainable development.

China is ready to actively participate in discussions on environmental protection, Zhang told an informal meeting on environmental protection and sustainable development.

The two-day ministerial environmental meeting Monday opened in Rio de Janeiro, gathering representatives from 22 countries and the UN.

The participants discussed a variety of issues including challenges in environmental protection and cooperation in sustainable development.

Zhang, head of the Chinese delegation to the meeting, said the environmental problems boil down to the issue of development.

Three principles in dealing with the problems should be established, Zhang said.

The first principle to meet environmental challenges is to ensure a balanced development of economy, society and environment, Zhang said.

Secondly, any measures in this regard should be taken in the framework of UN reforms, especially in reforms of its branches in charge of economic and social affairs, he said.

Finally, short-term measures and long-term targets in environment protection should be differentiated.

In dealing with environmental protection, the international community should try its best to carry out the widely-recognized measures while continue to discuss those with disputes, Zhang said.

The role of the UN Environmental Program should be enhanced and its efficiency and ability in tackling the problems strengthened to promote coordination between multilateral environmental protection conventions provide steady and sufficient fund for global fight against environmental degradation and render technical support for developing countries.

(Xinhua News Agency September 5, 2007)