Chinese President Hu Jintao on Saturday proposed setting up an
Asia-Pacific Network on Forest Rehabilitation and Sustainable
Management in order to better tackle climate change.
Hu put forward the initiative at the Economic Leaders Meeting of
the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum which opened
earlier in the day at Sydney Opera House.
The meeting, with the theme of "strengthening our community,
building a sustainable future," is focusing on climate change and
other issues at the first-day session.
Citing China's work and experience in forestation between 1980
and 2005, Hu said forest protection has an important role to play
in addressing climate change.
He proposed the setting up of the Asia-Pacific Network on Forest
Rehabilitation and Sustainable Management.
The network will provide a platform for APEC members to share
best practices, conduct policy dialogue and carry out personnel
training on forest rehabilitation and management, he said.
The Chinese president invited APEC members to join the proposed
network to promote forest rehabilitation and expansion, so as to
increase carbon sink and mitigate climate change in the Asia
Pacific region.
The Chinese president arrived in Sydney from Canberra on
Wednesday to attend the annual APEC Economic Leaders Meeting. He
has also paid a state visit to Australia.
The two-day gathering is the culmination of this year's annual
APEC meetings, which also include the Ministerial Meeting, Senior
Officials' Meeting and a business summit.
Since its inception in 1989 in response to the growing
interdependence among Asia-Pacific economies, APEC has played a
vital role in making the Asia-Pacific region a driving force for
world economic growth.
APEC currently has 21 members: Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile,
China, China's Hong Kong, Chinese Taipei, Indonesia, Japan,
Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the
Philippines, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, the United
States and Vietnam. The chairmanship rotates among its members.
(Xinhua News Agency September 8, 2007)
