China's reconstruction mode matching one province to one county in Sichuan demonstrated great success, Henrik Slotte, an official with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), told chinadaily.com.cn in an exclusive interview on Oct 12 in Beijing.

Henrik Slotte, chief of the United Nations Environment Programme Post-Conflict and Disaster Management Branch. [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]

"Environment consideration has been integrated into the planning of Beichuan county, and the successful mode and experience accumulated in China has been a value in Haiti earthquake recovery," said Slotte, chief of the UNEP Post-Conflict and Disaster Management Branch.

An 8.0-magnitude earthquake hit Sichuan and neighboring Gansu and Shaanxi provinces in May 2008, leaving 87,000 people dead or missing.

In order to mobilize the whole nation to help speed up the restoration and reconstruction in earthquake-hit areas and to provide assistance and support in an orderly manner, the Chinese government launched an aid partnership program, requiring each province or municipality to help one seriously affected county.

A total of 19 provinces and municipalities in eastern and central China have paired up with quake-hit areas.

Slotte said coordination was of great importance for rescue and reconstruction work after disasters and conflicts, helping to effectively allocate materials and help to those in need.

The UNEP issued the report "UNEP in China: Building Back Better" in July, sharing the experience on green reconstruction in Beichuan county, Shandong Zibo city, CSCFR, Broad Group and Chinese environmental NGOs.

The UNEP valued the sustainable building made by Broad Group, a steel-structure building that can be built within 24 hours and has earthquake-resistant and energy-efficient features, as the development model for post-disaster housing.