SUMMARY REPORT

The 1st meeting of the 3rd phase of the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development (hereby referred to as “the Council”) was held in Beijing on November 23-25, 2002. Thirty five Chinese and international members, 15 Chinese and international Task Force co-chairs, 5 special guests and 53 observers attended the meeting. Mr. Xie Zhenhua, Mr.Good, Mr. Qu Geping and Mr.Lönnroth, Vice Chairs of the Council, chaired the meeting respectively.

Vice Premier Wen Jiabao, Chairman of the Council, addressed the opening ceremony of this meeting. He noted that, as an advisory body giving advice to the Chinese government in its decision-making, the Council has successfully made a great many recommendations and suggestions to the Chinese government and conducted remarkable researches for the part 11 years. The Council has done its part in the achievements of China’s environment and development cause and has made important contribution to the government’s decision-making. He also stressed that, China has entered into a new stage of development during the period of the current CCICED. The 16th CPC National Congress has set out a blueprint for China’s development for the future 20 years. This is an important period for the CCICED, as the key for an effective solution to environmental problems and strengthened capability of sustained development lies in the government’s policy and action. Vice Premier Wen Jiabao believes that, with joint efforts of all members, the 3rd phase of the CCICED is sure to play a bigger role in the process of China’s building a well off society in an all around way.

The participating members endorsed the “Terms of Reference of the 3rd Phase of the CCICED”, “Rules of Procedure of the 3rd Phase of the CCICED”, and “Name list of Chinese and International Members, the Proposed Task Forces and Name list of Co-Chairs of the Task Forces of the 3rd Phase of the CCICED”.

Compared with the last two phases, the 3rd phase of the CCICED has conducted some great reforms, including identifying two executive vice chairs, adding one international vice chair, the number of the Chinese and international members are reduced from 59 to 41, flexible task force system takes the place of the working group system which has not been changed for 5 year, and two Chinese and international lead experts are appointed to take the responsibility of reviewing the proposals of new task forces, drafting “Reports on Issue Papers” and preparing for the establishment of core fund system, etc. The above-said reforms have set out a new landscape for the 3rd phase of the CCICED.

The meeting was centered around the theme “environment, development and governance-response to the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD)”. Mr. Strong, Secretary General of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in 1992 and Mr. Töpfer, executive director of the United Nations Environmental Program and representatives from the State Planning Commission were invited to deliver keynote speeches, briefing the meeting on the WSSD, reactions of countries around the world after the meeting, directions of global sustainable development, China’s support to the WSSD and its macro planning, general perspectives and important measures to implement its sustainable development strategy in the field of environment and development. The meeting listened to two Issue Papers by Chinese and international lead experts Professor Sun Honglie and Dr. Hanson, which talk about the overall situation and problems in world and China’s environment and development. The meeting was also briefed by leaders from provinces and autonomous regions, namely Liaoning, Inner Mongolia, Fujian and Guangxi, on their trial projects of circular economy, eco-environmental protection and development, opening up policy, west development and sustainable development. With the above-said as basis, general debate was also carried out during the meeting. Many international members commended that, thanks to China’s strategic planning, wealth that amounts to two present China and four present China will be produced around the world in 2010 and in 2020 respectively. It is necessary to make in-depth studies on what impact this will bring to China and world at large in the field of economy and environment. In this respect, it is essential to convert traditional development modality and to carry out sustainable development.

The meeting reviewed the “Working Report of the Secretariat”, “Report on Coordination Meetings by Co-chairs of Task Forces” and working reports by task force on forestry and grassland, working group on environmental economics, task force on biodiversity and task force on WTO and environment. Quite a few international members voiced their concerns to China’s large importation of woods and the invasion of foreign species. The participating Chinese and international members and co-chairs of task forces showed special interests in China’s adherence to its sustainable development strategy while establishing a well off society in an all around way and set forth lots of good proposals. Based on these proposals and after repeated discussions and revisements, the meeting endorsed the “Recommendations to the Chinese Government by the 1st meeting of the 3rd phase of the CCICED”(see Annex).

The meeting was closed on the morning of the 25th. Vice Chairman Mr. Xie Zhenhua gave his sum-up remarks on behalf the bureau. He noted that, CCICED is a high level advisory body to the Chinese government and will continue to play a particular and important role in the field of environment and development during the important period of China’s establishing a well off society in an all around way; the working direction and focus of the CCICED is, by closely centering around the objectives set out by the 16th CPC National Congress and carrying out the spirit of the WSSD, to put forth suggestions on issues like how to coordinate the relationship between environment and development, how to strengthen the country’s capability of sustainable development, and how to avoid various potential and practical challenges during the development process; the task forces should still put their priority on researches in the respect of implementation and put forth policy recommendations for the government to choose; By taking a down-to-earth and domestically oriented approach, we will solve China’s environmental and development problems and contribute to the global sustainable development.

On the afternoon of the 25th, Premier Zhu Rongji met with the participating Chinese and international representatives and made an important speech. He said that, the Chinese government attaches great importance to the role of the CCICED. The Council has provided very good recommendations to the Chinese government, which are of great assistance to China’s environmental protection and sustainable development. Premier Zhu noted that, it was during the process of industrialization that China has gradually come to realize the importance of environmental protection and sustainable development. Particularly after the Rio United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) held 10 years ago, China began to pay more attention to environmental protection and sustainable development. Premier Zhu pointed out that, keeping sand storms under permanent control does not only requires China’s action but also calls for the support of the international community. China is currently developing cooperation with Japan and South Korea in getting rid of the root causes of sand storms. Premier Zhu specially pointed out that, the Chinese government has been working actively in preventing air pollution and has formally acceded to the “Kyoto Protocol”. In preparing for the 2008 Olympics Games, Beijing has formulated and begun to carry out grand plans on air pollution controls, and for instance, Beijing has raised the emission standard for automobile’s pollutants. Premier Zhu stressed that, China is still facing some problems in the process of improving environment and sustainable development. However, China will continue to make unswerving efforts to improve its environment and fulfill sustainable development. Finally, Premier Zhu expressed his hope that the CCICED would continue to show their concerns to China’s environmental protection and sustainable development.

On the morning of the 26th, representatives from the State Environmental Protection Administration and some donor countries attended the coordination meeting of CCICED projects co-hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation and Canadian International Development Agency and fully exchanged their views on the establishment of core fund mechanism in a step-by-step manner.

After the meeting, the Secretariat of the CCICED arranged an investigation tour for vice chair Mr. Lönnroth and international member Mr. and Mrs Willoch(former Prime Minister of Norway) to visit Xi’an and Shenzhen. Through this practical investigation, the international members gained a comprehensive understanding of environment and development situations in these two places. They expressed their deep appreciation towards the measures and achievements of these two places in the field of environmental protection.