China to hold a green Asia-Europe summit: FM

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-10-15 07:33

BEIJING -- A senior Chinese diplomat said on Tuesday China would devote itself to holding a green summit of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), scheduled for October 24 to 25, and has taken measures in this regard.

"We have chosen green and environment-friendly materials to make articles for use of the meeting and to arrange the conference hall," Assistant Foreign Minister Liu Jieyi told a press conference here.

He said vehicles with zero emissions would be used in the transport between the press center and the conference hall, while signs of advocating energy savings were placed in hotels, such as the sign of encouraging the use of reusable toiletries.

Liu said the ministries in charge of the organizing work and the Beijing municipal government both attached great importance to minimizing as much as they could the disturbance to Beijing citizens during the summit, mainly to traffic.

He said relevant departments have prepared very well to take a lot of measures to minimize the time that streets and roads are occupied by vehicles for the meeting. "We have thought out many ways to do this, and I believe we will do a good job."

He believed Beijingers would be proud of hosting such a grand international event in the city.

He added lots of preparation for the summit had been made, among which the protocol, press, security and reception work were all in order. The Chinese side had maintained close cooperation with other members of ASEM for the preparation of the meeting.

"A green summit cannot do without the support and coordination of all members. We believe other members will make joint efforts with China in this regard. We hope this summit can further show the determination and efforts of Asia and Europe to respond to climate change and realize sustainable development."

Leaders and delegates from 45 Asian and European countries and organizations will gather in the capital for the upcoming seventh ASEM summit.