Chapter 1
Introduction
Section 4 Strategic Concept, and Related Policies and Measures
1.19 China is establishing a sustainable economic and social development system and corresponding environmental and sustainable resources base as an overall objective, in order to bring about economic prosperity, social progress, and ecological security. The main elements of the nation's strategic concept are:
to actively promote the shift in economic structure and in the mode of economic development, and to constantly improve the quality of development while maintaining economic growth;
to carry out a strategy of re-invigorating the country by relying on science and technology, and by integrating science, education, and the economy;
to promote moral and ethical development and to strengthen democracy and legal systems, thereby encouraging overall social progress and establishing a social basis for the nation's sustainable development;
to control population growth and constantly improve the competence level;
to adopt policies that give equal attention to the utilisation and the protection of natural resources;
to rely on law enforcement in protecting and utilising the nation's natural resources, including land, freshwater, the seas, forests, grassland, biological resources, mineral resources, etc.;
to improve the ecological environment by controlling pollution and preventing soil erosion;
to enhance efforts in implementing the "Help the Poor" programmes with a view to basically eliminate the nation's poverty by the end of the century; and
to establish, step by step, the nation's policy and legal systems for sustainable development, as well as decision-making and management co-ordination mechanisms that promote sustainable development.
1.20 In further implementing the national strategy of sustainable development, China has several factors working to her advantage. These include:
An initial solid foundation for future development has been laid due to the rapid development of the national economy and the enhancement of the nation's comprehensive capabilities in recent years;
The status of environmental protection as a basic State policy has been strengthened with the overall strengthening of environmental law systems and the various management systems;
Extensive efforts have been carried out nation-wide to prevent and treat pollution, and to protect the ecological environment; and
Progress has been scored in international cooperation addressing environmental problems.
1.21 China is also faced with some difficulties in implementing the nation's strategy of sustainable development. These include:
The nation's relatively low level of economic development and relative backwardness of her overall technological level, as well as her unfinished tasks in effecting the shift in the mode of economic growth;
The long-term contradictions caused by the enormous population pressure and by relative shortages of natural resources;
The contradiction between economic growth on the one hand and the available funding, resources, and environment on the other;
The trend of environmental pollution and deterioration of the ecological environment has not yet been effectively curbed, and arduous tasks remain to be accomplished in this regard.
1.22 In light of China's country-specific conditions and of her preliminary practical experience, and with a view to further promoting the implementation the nation's strategy of sustainable development, the Chinese Government will follow the directives issued by President Jiang Zemin at the Fourth National Conference on Environmental Protection, namely: In line with China's specific conditions, in the process of implementing the nation's strategy of sustainable development, great efforts should be made to do a good job in the following aspects: (1) Economising on water, land, energy, materials, cereals, and other resources, and promoting the development of agriculture with high yield, high quality, high efficiency, and low investment, and all industries should lay emphasis on quality of products, on low energy consumption, and on economic and social benefits; (2) Continuing with efforts to control population growth and to enhance the competence level of the nation's population; (3) Working for rationalisation in consumption structure and in the patterns of consumption which should be conducive to environmental and resources protection, and refraining from a wasteful, high level of consumption which the nation's productivity level cannot sustain; (4) Promoting the publicity and education in environmental protection so as to enhance people's awareness of and participation in protection of the ecological environment; (5) Resolutely halting and reversing the trends of the ecological environment deterioration and of damaging natural resources in certain areas in the country.
Following the above directives, several specific measures will be taken in implementing the nation's strategy of sustainable development. These include:
Promotion of sustainable development through scientific and technological progress
During the nation's Ninth Five-Year Plan (1996-2000), top priority will be given to environmentally sound technologies relating to cleaner production, clean energy, recycling, and sustainable utilisation of all resources. Research programmes will be initiated on sustainable development in key arid and semi-arid areas, such as those in northwestern China. Research will also be conducted on the theory of sustainable development and relevant indicators, as well as research on urban sustainable development and demonstration areas, including demonstration projects on establishing communities and industrial entities with the lowest wastes discharge.
Continuous promotion of the implementation of China's Agenda 21 by local authorities and relevant departments
In order to gain experience and gradually spread the experience gained, China will select some typical, representative areas as experimental areas of sustainable development, in order to accumulate experience that can be used elsewhere. Further development of eco-agriculture with Chinese characteristics will be promoted in vast rural areas. In industries, great efforts will be made to promote the development and dissemination of cleaner production technologies. Efforts will also be made to control the total discharge volume of pollutants. The Leading Group of "China's Agenda 21" is planning to organise the Council of Industry and Commerce on Sustainable Development, so as to mobilise people of the industrial and commercial circles to participate in the practice of sustainable development.
Enhancement of capacity building and promotion of people's awareness of sustainable development
Acceleration of the formulation of, and amendments to, related policies, laws, and regulations, and strengthening law enforcement efforts, so as to further improve the nation's management system of sustainable development. Further promotion of people's understanding and recognition of sustainable development strategy will be conducted through various publicity, educational, and training activities.
Focusing on certain key areas to address problems of ecological environment
During the nation's Ninth Five-Year Plan, China will concentrate on establishing a series of key projects to enhance the capability in resolving the problems of environmental pollution. Problems relating to the ecological environment will also be dealt with. Top priority will be given to soil and water conservation in areas along the upper and middle reaches of the Yangtze River and middle reaches of the Yellow River. The establishment and expansion of ecological shelter forests will be promoted, thereby combating desertification and preventing the spread of desertified areas. Efforts will also be made to protect and improve prairies and grazing grassland.
Intensification of efforts for conservation and comprehensive utilisation of natural resources and for protection of resources
Policies that attach equal importance to utilisation and conservation of resources should be adhered to. Every effort should be made in various activities such as production, construction, circulation, and consumption, so as to economise on land, water, materials, cereals, and other resources thereby reducing resources consumption and enhancing the efficient use of resources, energy, and raw materials.
1.23 Promoting extensive international cooperation on the basis of mutual benefit
While making public China's Agenda 21, the Chinese Government also published the related Priority Programme. This gained support and cooperation from a number of governments, international organisations, and enterprises. The "Priority Programme for China's Agenda 21" contains 9 priority areas encompassing 128 projects. The Chinese Government and related local authorities, while working to improve the co-operative environment and services, warmly invite friends from around the world and international organisations to China for wide-ranging and mutually beneficial cooperative undertakings that contribute to sustainable development.
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