China heading for water pollution crisis: Official
(AP)
Updated: 2006-03-16 20:19

Air pollution also is serious, with total emissions of sulfur dioxide, a major component in acid rain, 80 percent above permitted levels and rising, Pan said.

He complained that Chinese regulators lack adequate powers to enforce standards and said some of the country's leaders fail to appreciate the importance of environmental protection.

"Some wrongly think that solely developing the economy will solve all other social, political and other problems," he said.

Pan said that unlike developed countries, China didn't plan to try to reduce its pollution by moving its dirtier industries to poorer nations.

He asked the editors to call on Washington and governments of other developed countries to "help and assist the developing countries, including China, to improve their environment."

"This is an urgent call for assistance especially as the environmental agencies of countries like China do not enjoy very much influence," he said.