CCICED 2007 AGM was held on November 28 to 30, 2007 in Beijing with the theme of “Innovation for an Environmentally-Friendly Society”. Vice Premier Zeng Peiyan of the State Council, who is also the Chairman of CCICED attended the meeting and gave a speech. He said China would adhere to the principle of people first, vigorously promote innovation, further strengthen environmental protection, speed up the development of ecological culture and follow the comprehensive, coordinated and sustainable development path.

Vice Premier Zeng said that China has made increasing efforts in environmental protection over the past 5 years. China experiences downturn of energy consumption per unit GDP and emission of major pollutants this year through restructuring, pollution control and strict management. This important turning point marks that environmental protection work of China is at a new starting point.

Vice Premier Zeng pointed out that the 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China clearly states that economic development should be based on optimum structure, high efficiency, low consumption and environmental protection. It presents the development of ecological culture as new requirement for the building of a Xiaokang society in an all round way. Facing the future, China will firmly follow the path of people first, balanced and sustainable development path and strengthen the efforts in environmental protection through innovation. First, make innovations in our development idea. We will further implement the scientific outlook on development. We will take energy conservation and consumption reduction as well as emission reduction as a major objective for development, which serves as an important means to economic restructuring and economic growth mode transformation as well as an essential component for our endeavor to improve macro economic regulation and industrial development policies. We will accelerate the development of resource saving and environment-friendly society. Second, make innovations in our development mode. We will accelerate the transformation of economic growth mode, facilitating the change from investment and export driven economy to a balanced driving forces of consumption, investment and export; from mainly relying on secondary industry to the synergy of primary, secondary and tertiary industries; and from relying on increasing resource consumption for economic growth to relying on technology advance, improvement of workers’ quality and innovation in management. We will establish a modern industrial system featuring clean energy and high efficiency. Third, make institutional and systematic innovations. We will improve environmental laws and regulations system. We will establish and improve economic policy system conducive to resource saving and environmental protection. We will further carry out environmental protection responsibility system for local governments and enterprises. We will mobilize the initiatives of all social forces in taking part in environmental protection. Fourth, make innovations in pollution prevention and control mode. We will make more efforts in conservation of energy and resources, vigorously develop circular economy, accelerate the development of environmental protection control project in order to improve environmental quality as soon as possible.

He said, in the context of deepened economic globalization, the shift of international manufacturing industries to China and China’s export of processed products has promoted economic development of China and the prosperity of world economy, eases the pressure on resources and environment of other countries. At the same time, it increases the difficulties of China in addressing resource and environmental problems.

We welcome practical cooperation between China and international communities in the field of environment and development. With such cooperation, we will introduce state-of-art environmental equipment, technologies, talents, management skills and treatment fund so that we jointly protect eco environment of China. To the issue of climate change, China will, according to the principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities”, shoulder its due responsibility and obligation. We will take effective measures to actively control the emission of greenhouse gas.

Mr. Zhou Shengxian, Minister of SEPA and Executive Vice Chairman of CCICED chaired the meeting. Mr. Xie Zhenhua, Mr. Töpfer and Mr. Brende, all Vice Chairmen of CCICED as well as Mr. Zhu Guangyao, Secretary General of CCICED attended the Annual General Meeting. Over 200 participants including Chinese and International Members of CCICED, head of relevant departments of the State Council, representatives of international organizations and institutions, government officials of some foreign countries and embassy officials in Beijing, Chinese and foreign observers as well as experts and scholars attended the meeting.