Sino-Japanese co-operation in environmental protection is in the long-term interests of both countries' people, a top Chinese environmental official said yesterday in Beijing.

Xie Zhenhua, minister of the State Environmental Protection Administration, said such co-operation has played an important role in improving the environment in China and in making the country better equipped to protect the environment.

The minister addressed yesterday's opening ceremony of the Sino-Japanese Environmental Co-operation Week, which is part of celebrations of the 30th anniversary of the normalization of ties between China and Japan.

"Japan's experience and techniques in environmental protection are helpful for China and will be useful in China's market," Xie said.

Activities during the week will include a summit of government officials from the two nations, a comprehensive forum on their environments, a seminar on the prevention and control of sandstorms and an exhibition of Sino-Japanese co-operation in the area.

During the past two decades, Sino-Japanese co-operation in this area has developed healthily with the support of both governments.

One of the greatest achievements is the Beijing-based Sino-Japanese Friendship Center for Environmental Protection, which began research in the early 1990s.

The center is now responsible for various exchanges between China and Japan, including training courses and seminars attended by experts and officials from both sides.

Hiromi Chihara, head of a team of Japanese experts working at the center, said: "We are here to mainly do research into some key environmental problems in China, such as air pollution, environmental management and environmental problems that occur during the process of China's development of the west."

(China Daily October 9, 2002)