The first Jiuzhai Paradise International Environment Forum was held on October 28-29 in Jiuzhaigou, a famous scenic spot in Aba, Tibet and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture of Southwest China's Sichuan Province.

Zhang Rongming, vice-chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and honourary Chairman of the All-China Environment Federation, Song Jian, chairman of the All-China Environment Federation, Zhang Zhongwei, governor of Sichuan Province and representatives from the United Nations Environment Programme were all present at the opening ceremony.

Xie Zhenhua, minister of the State Environmental Protection Administration, Chen Yuan, governor of the China Development Bank and Zhang Guobao, vice-minister of the State Development and Reform Commission made keynote speeches, sharing their insights and knowledge in this area.

Song pointed out that sustainable development should be given greater importance by the nation in future.

Focusing on environmental strategies against a backdrop of rapid economic development, the forum covered strategies on water environment, energy and the environment, financing and investment.

Experts and government officials had in-depth discussions on water resources, water environment, measures to curb water pollution and the safety of edible water in the next five to 15 years.

They also focused on the rational use of energy including oil, coal and power, and the strategy to develop energy-saving industries in China.

Another area of analysis was the current investment demand and climate in the environmental protection sector in China.

In-depth discussions were also held on the profits and strategies of policy banks and international financial organizations.

Xie noted that the country should not pursue an economy model driven by sacrificing the environment.

Representatives from the United Nations Environment Programme said that the organization has channelled supportive funds to help China improve its environment and to assist the nation in introducing advanced technology for this purpose, from developed countries.

Young environmentalists

A ceremony granting excellent primary school students who made committed efforts in an activity called "save a barrel of water" activity held during the summer holiday, was held last Thursday in Gaojiayuan Primary School in Beijing.

The event was jointly organized by some government institutions such as the Beijing municipal government and the Environmental Activity Department of Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad and a local sports newpaper the First. It was sponsored by the Coca Cola (China) Beverage Ltd.

David Brooks, vice-president of Coca Cola (China) Beverages Ltd, said that the event has collected some 30,000 proposals from the students, increasing their interest in environmental protection.

Brooks and senior officials from the Environmental Activity Department of the Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, said that they enjoyed themselves immensely by joining the students of Gaojiayuan Primary School to make water-saving barrels in class.

Officials from the department said the department will organize more activities in Beijing to raise local people's awareness of environmental protection.

Policy loan extended by CDB

The China Development Bank (CDB) extended credit worth 50 billion yuan (US$6.17 billion) to the nation's environmental protection sector.

The CDB signed an agreement with the State Environment Protection Administration during the first Jiuzhai Paradise International Environment Forum, pledging to support the nation's environmental protection campaign in the next five years.

During the forum, executives from the CDB said that the bank had supported a total of 202 projects in the area with total loans worth 30.4 billion yuan (US$3.75 billion), by the end of June this year.

Government officials said on the forum that the nation will invest a total of 1.3 trillion yuan (US$160.3 billion) in nine key environmental protection projects.

(China Daily 10/31/2005 page8)