With a view to preparing for the World Summit on Sustainable Development (hereinafter referred to as WSSD) to be held in Johannesburg under the auspices of the United Nations, the Chinese Government has reviewed and summarized the progress made in implementing sustainable development strategy from 1992 to 2001 pursuant to the requirement of the 55th session of the UN General Assembly, and ompiled “The People’s Republic of China National Report on Sustainable Development”.

Attaching great importance to the WSSD and the compilation of the National Report, in 2001 the Chinese Government established China’s Organizing Committee (COC) for WSSD composed of the State Development Planning Commission, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Science and Technology and the State Environmental Protection Administration as core units together with other relevant departments. The COC subsequently set up the Report Preparation Group, A Working Group and an Expert Group. Government at various levels, the departments concerned, and social groups were all very supportive of the work.

In order the this Report would give a real picture of the progress China has achieved in mplementing the sustainable development strategy, the COC employed ways and means to listen to comment from various sources, and sought comment and suggestions form NGOs and ordinary people from all walks of life. This Report is the result of widespread public effort.

As the Chinese Government presented the 1997 National Report on Sustainable Development to the 19th UN Special Session in June 1997, the current one focuses on progress since 1996.

This Report has been approved by the Government of the People’s Republic of China. We hope it will provide useful support and input to the WSSD 2002.