What better way to celebrate a clean environment than by going
for a leisurely swim?
European Union (EU) Ambassador to China Serge Abou said he would
be delighted to do just that by joining Guangdong Governor Huang
Huahua for a few laps in the Pearl River some day.
"The governor told me that the water quality in the river had
improved so much in recent years that he was able to go for a swim
in it last year. I'd be glad to compete with him because I like to
swim, too," said Abou.
"I appreciate Guangdong's efforts to tackle water pollution. We
will work together to deepen our cooperation on environment
protection," he added.
Abou has been visiting south China's Guangdong Province for the
past two days. His comments highlighted the joint efforts by China
and the EU to protect the environment and conserve energy.
"The EU attaches the utmost importance to cooperation in terms
of environment protection and energy conservation with China, as
the country now confronts such problems as water and air pollution
and insufficient energy resources," Abou said.
The ambassador added that the EU was planning to set up an
energy and environmental technology center in China to help resolve
the country's ecological challenges.
"The EU has lots of experience with developing energy-saving
technology and environment protection. And I believe that the
establishment of such a centre will help China better tackle
environmental and energy problems," Abou said.
The two sides have already worked closely together in the fields
of science and technology, he added.
For example, China is participating in the Framework Program for
Research and Technological Development, the EU's largest scientific
research program, the ambassador said.
China was the third most active non-EU country in the Sixth
Framework Program, which ended last year, taking part in nearly 200
projects involving science, technology and the environment.
In addition to the Galileo (a satellite navigation project) and
ITER (international thermo-nuclear fusion testing reactor)
projects, China and the EU are also working together on
bio-technology, information technology, industrial standardization,
environment protection and pollution control, said Abou.
"We are also working on the EU-China cooperative plan for the
period of 2007-12. And we have worked out clear goals for
environment protection. The EU will spend some 50 million euros
(US$67.3 million) on a cooperative effort with the Chinese
environmental protection authorities to reduce pollution and save
energy resources," Abou said.
Last week, the EU also agreed with China's Ministry of
Construction to jointly hold a high-level seminar focusing on
energy conservation in the construction field.
(China Daily April 13, 2007)
