Chapter 4 China's Plans and Measures for Realisation of the Sustainable Development Strategy   Section 4 International Cooperation 4.17 As a developing country, China has been confronted with the long-standing dilemma of economic development and environmental protection. China will attain its environment and development goals on the basis of independence and self-reliance, and gradually solve environmental problems in the course of its economic development. At the same time, the Chinese Government has consistently regarded intensifying international cooperation in the field of environment and development as a cornerstone policy. With the rapid progress of China's opening-up, especially since the UNCED, the Chinese Government has become actively engaged in bilateral, multilateral, and regional environmental cooperation. Just before the UNCED, China formed the "Chinese Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development" with many domestically- and world-renowned philanthropists and experts as its members. This Council is a high-level non-governmental advisory organisation. Its mission is to strengthen cooperation and exchange on environment and development between China and the international community. It also aims to make useful suggestions and recommendations on China's environment and development. Most of their constructive ideas have been adopted and implemented by the Chinese Government. 4.18 In order to promote international cooperation on China's Agenda 21 and establish cooperative partnerships on the global environment and development, the Chinese Government has formulated the "Priority Programme for China's Agenda 21 (First Tranche)". The Priority Programme includes 82 projects covering the following 9 priority areas: capacity building for sustainable development sustainable agriculture cleaner production and environmental protection industry clean energy and transportation conservation and sustainable utilisation of natural resources environmental pollution control poverty alleviation and regional development population, health, and human settlements global climate change and biodiversity conservation The Chinese Government plans to invest US$ 4 billion in the gradual implementation of the Priority Programme between 1994 and 2000. Box 4-1 The Priority Programme for China's Agenda 21 The Priority Programme involved 128 projects in 9 priority areas. These areas mainly include capacity building, key technology and demonstration projects. Priority 1 - Capacity Building for Sustainable Development Includes legislation and enforcement, policies, education and training, public participation in sustainable development, etc. Priority 2 - Sustainable Agriculture Includes the strategy for sustainable agriculture and related demonstration projects, water-conserving agriculture, development of biological pesticides and organic foods, etc. Priority 3 - Cleaner Production and Environmental Protection Industry Includes management of cleaner production, the demonstration and introduction of clean technologies in selected industrial sectors and enterprises, development of de-sulferising technologies, development of dust control technologies, development of the environmental protection industry, construction of industrial parks for environmental science and technology, etc. Priority 4 - Clean Energy and Transportation Includes clean coal technologies, improvements in energy efficiency, utilisation of renewable energy sources, modern transportation management in big cities, a pilot light rail, etc. Priority 5 - Conservation and Sustainable Utilisation of Natural Resources Includes prevention and control of soil erosion, conservation of wetland and coastal resources, natural resources accounting, establishment of monitoring networks for ecology and the environment, reclamation of wastes and mine tailings, establishment of exchange markets for secondary resources etc. Priority 6 - Environmental Pollution Control Includes urban wastewater treatment and recycling, rehabilitation of lake water, safe management of hazardous wastes and toxic chemicals, treatment and disposal of radioactive wastes, acid rain control, etc. Priority 7 - Combating Poverty and Regional Development Includes poverty alleviation, development of regions which are the focus of international attention with potential economic benefits, etc. Priority 8 - Population, Health, and Human Settlements Includes sustainable development in various communities and demonstration projects, family planning, health care, disaster mitigation and prevention, etc. Priority 9 - Global Change and Biodiversity Conservation Includes global concerns such as climate change, conservation of biodiversity, prevention and control of desertification, etc. 4.19 In order to promote China's sustainable development strategies and international cooperation on priority projects, the Chinese Government with assistance from the UNDP, convened the First High-Level Round Table Conference on China's Agenda 21 in July of 1994. The formal release of the Priority Programme for China's Agenda 21 at this conference was well received by the international community. Many international organisations, foreign governments, and corporations played an active role in the implementation of the Priority Programme. The Chinese Government has also allocated a large amount of funds in support of the implementation of these projects. According to the statistics, by October of 1996, 41.5% of the priority projects from the First Tranche have been implemented, and another 30.5% are in the process of negotiation and preparation. Among those projects which have already been launched, US$ 1.29 billion has been invested. Of this amount, China has invested US$ 960 million (which accounts for 74.4% of the total inputs) and US$ 330 million (which accounts for the remaining 25.6 %) comes from the international community. 4.20 The Second High-Level Round Table Conference on China's Agenda 21 was held in October of 1996. At this Conference, the revised version of the Priority Programme for China's Agenda 21 (with a total of 128 projects) was publicised with the aim of promoting the participation of the industry and business communities in the investment projects related to sustainable development, and encouraging the active involvement of domestic and foreign enterprises in sustainable development to the interest of all relevant parties. 4.21 The implementation of China's Agenda 21 has not only had an important influence over China's realisation of sustainable development, but also had a far-reaching effect on global sustainable development. Therefore, the international cooperation in this connection is of mutual benefit. China's economic development and environmental enhancement will exert a major influence over global sustainable development. China's huge market will bring investors a fruitful return. China's governments at all level and other relevant institutions will endeavour to expand international co-operation, create a favourable collaborative environment, provide good services, and warmly welcome the friends from all over the world to conduct extensive and mutually beneficial collaboration with China.   Text Browser Utilities: [ACCA21 Home Page, National Report on Sustainable Development Home Page, Back, Next] For more information about ACCA21 contact: web@acca21.org.cn Address: 109 Wanquanhe Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100089, People's Republic of China Telephone: +86-10-82636193, +86-10-82634400 Ext.2401 Fax: +86-10-82636192