China, Japan join hands in environmental cooperation

Environmental officials from China and Japan exchanged opinions at a high-level meeting on Wednesday and planned to deepen their cooperation and promote pollution control in China.

China and Japan have enjoyed smooth exchanges and cooperated on technology, policies and other experiences related to environment pollution control since 1994 when the two governments signed contracts on environmental protection cooperation, Huang Runqiu, deputy minister of environmental protection, said on Wednesday.

For example, a team of Chinese experts from the Sino-Japan Friendship Center for Environmental Protection under the ministry has conducted research on building an environmentally friendly society and visited some Japanese cities last year to learn from their practices to curb air, water and soil pollution in 1980s.

Their report has analyzed Japan's measures such as improving laws and industrial structures, which could provide suggestions for control measures in China today.

Huang, the deputy environment minister suggested that the experts from China and Japan cooperate further in experiences and technology that could be used to tackle air, water and soil pollution in China.

At the high-level discussion, environment officials and experts from both countries witnessed a new alliance, which is expected to promote environmentally friendly consumption for resource conservation in China.

The new alliance led by some institutes under the ministry involves 109 members including some research centers, companies and NGOs.

zhengjinran@chinadaily.com.cn