U.S.-China joint efforts urged in environmental protection
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2006-04-13 17:59 A senior U.S. official here
Thursday called for the United States and China to make joint efforts to protect
the environment and build a cleaner future.
Steven Johnson, administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA), said in a written statement that as major contributors to the global
economy, the United States and China share very important responsibilities in
maintaining a healthy global environment. He called on the two countries to work
together to improve the environment.
Johnson started his week-long China tour last Saturday. He visited Beijing,
Lijiang, a city in southwestern China's Yunnan province, and Shanghai.
During his stay here, he met with Zhou Shengxian, head of China's State
Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA). The two sides recognized their
progress in cooperation on the prevention of water and air pollution, and the
management and treatment of hazardous wastes.
Johnson said he shared identical views with Chinese officials on the
necessity and significance in fighting global pollution.
The two countries also adopted a cooperation program in environmental
protection during Johnson's visit.
The program calls on the two countries to intensify transfers of technical
information, personnel exchanges to demonstrate environmental management
approaches and technologies.
EPA and SEPA will work together to establish and strengthen environmental
regulations for the management of hazardous and solid wastes in China, including
medical waste, lead-acid batteries, electronic waste, tires, and sludge
generated by industrial and domestic waste water treatment, the strategy
said.
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