China will become an example of sustainable development, and to
help this process the EU is willing to provide it with technology
and experience, EU Environmental Commissioner Margot Wallstrom told
Xinhua News Agency in a recent interview in Beijing.
Wallstrom said her visit to China was aimed at establishing an
EU-China environmental dialogue mechanism according to the
principles set out at the sixth European leaders' conference
earlier this year. The two sides have already decided on the
specific leading candidates and the dialogue would continue in
2004, she added.
"Some developed countries always think of China as a 'problem'
and neglect to consider the contributions it has made," Wallstrom
said. "For example, China has made great efforts in controlling
greenhouse gas emissions. What we need to do is to provide it with
funds, technology and experience."
It is reported that between 2002-06, the total investment of the
EU's aid projects to China will reach 250 million Euros, including
100 million Euros for environmental projects.
Wallstrom visited Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning
Province, where she inspected the "EU-Liaoning Comprehensive
Environmental Project," the largest Sino-EU cooperative project
aimed at improving the development of local environmental
comprehensive management capabilities, promoting clean production,
raising energy use efficiency and strengthening waste
recycling.
The EU is experienced in the rehabilitation of highly polluted
heavy industrial cities, said Wallstrom. "The successful
transformation of Ruhrgebiet in Germany is a typical example. We'd
like to share the experience with China."
Currently, the main cooperative fields between China and the EU
involve global climate change and biodiversity. Future cooperation
will focus on water and air quality, pollution discharges and clean
production, according to Wallstrom.
"I'm glad to see that sustainable development has become more
and more important in China's political agenda. China always takes
immediate action as soon as it has made up its minds to do
something," she said. "We hope China will continue its efforts.
Your success is very important to us all."
(China.org.cn by Li Jingrong and Daragh Moller, November 19,
2003)
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