Respected Chairman, Committee Members, Ladies and Gentlemen,

　　I am glad to have the chance to participate in this meeting and to have the oppo rtunity to discuss environmental and development issues with the committee membe rs and experts. First of all, on behalf of the People's Government of Beijing mu nicipality, let me express our warm welcome to you, and wish you great success a t this meetin.

　　Environmental issues aur of overall importance, and concern both economic and so cial sustainable development.As well, they are also important parts in the Unite d Nation's environment protection action plan for the year 2000. Protection of t he environment to realize sustainable development is not only the objective requ irement of economic and social development in Beijing, but it has also been take n as our long term strategic target. At the time when the human race is entering the 21st century, the exchanging of experience, the sharing of common interest, and the strengthening of cooperation in environmental protection and economic d evelopment are of vital importance for promoting economic prosperity, social pro gress and sustainable development.

　　As the capital of P. R. China, Beijing serves as the politic and cultural center of the country.Beijing is a developing city with 1 million population.Significa nt progress have been achieven in city construction and development since the re form and opening up - the urban infrastructure supply level has kept increasing, resident's income levels enjoy a stable increase, science and technology, educa tion, public health as well as other social sectors have achieved an overall imp rovement, and the living conditions of residents have been considerably improved As early as in 1983, environmental protection was designated as one of basic nat ional policy, and cities have been taken as the focus for environmental protecti on. Therefore, implementation of environmental protection as the basic national policy has always been highly emphasized by the municipal government along with the economic development and city construction. Environmental protection and sus tainable development strategies have been incorporated in the Urban Master Plan of Beijing and cross - century overall development target. In line with the targ et stipulated in the Urban Master Plan of Beijing approved by the State Council, efforts have been made to adjust the overall layout of the city, strengthen the investment in urban infrastructure (especially investment in environmental prot ection facilities), and smooth progress has been realized in environmental prote ction.In the past five years, the accumulated investment in urban infrastructure constuciton reached Rmb 80 billion yuan, of which 12. 5 billion has been invest ed in pollution control and infrastruchture which is colsely related with enviro nmental protection. A series of important pollution control facilities such as t he Gaobeidfian Wastewater Treatment Plant and the Asuwei Sanitary Landfill Site have been constructed. In addition, the Leading Group of Beijing Municipality fo r Implementation of China's Agenda 21 was set up in 1995, and widespread dissemi nation on sustainable development has been launched.In cooperation with the UNDP , the Key Field Action Plan of Beijing Municipality for Sustainable Development has been developed.

　　Since the reform and opening up, international cooperation has served as one of the bases for environmental protection and economic development in Beijing. Stre ngthening of international cooperation and communication are the targets we have pursued in our previous work. In the past five years, a total of over US $ 300 million in loans or grants from the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank and f riendly countries have been introduced for infrastructure construction and envir onmental protection. Projects financed by these funds cover introduction of natu ral gas, district heating, construction of municipal wastewater treatment plant, municipal solid waste treatment, industrial pollution control, environmental mo nitoring and research and so on. We also enjoy happy cooperation with overseas f riends in education, poverty reduction, housing and other social development fie lds.Also, with the deepening of reform and opening up, as well as improvements i n the investment environment, more and more overseasw frieds prefer to invest an d set up factories in Beijing. In recent years, the annual utilization scale of foreign capitasl has reached US $ 3 billion.

　　However, we should note that Beijing is a city with a population of over 10 mill ion.Along with social and economic development, while all the above mentioned ef forts have reduced the deterioration of environmental qualtiyt, the urban enviro nmental quality in dards, which are equal to international standards of the earl y 1990s,will be applied in Beijing; great efforts will be concentrated on the de velopment of public transportation and enhancing the enforcement of regulations concerning vehicle maintenance and scrapping of unwanted vehicles; compressed cl ean fuel will be used in public buses and taxis; new roads will be constructed; and the urban transportation system as well as the traffic management system wil l be improved.

　　To prevent and control dust pollution, approaches for more control of constructi on sites have been developed and management has been enhanced. Mechanical road c leaning and watering activities have been expanded. A program for the improvemen t of green coverage in teh urban and rural areas has been worked out.

　　To deal with water pollution, efforts in the control of soil erosion,the strengt hening of inspeciton and supervision, the construction of sewers, the protection of the Miyun Reservori and ground drinking water source will continue. Meanwhil e, a program with a total invesment of several billion RMB Yuan has been drawn u po to clean the rivers and lakes in the urban area snd to increease the municipa l wastewater treatment capacity.

　　To control the pollution caused by municipal solid waste, we will carry on with the principle of 'minimize, make harmless andreclaim' while improving collection and disposal. In addition to maintain the normal operation of the existing four large size sanitary landfill and composting sites, one new landfillsite will so on be completed, and the preparation for construction of two incineration plants will start.

　　To control the pollution caused by municipal solid waste, we will carry on with the principle of 'minimize, make harmless and reclain' while improving collecxti on and disposal. In addition to maintain the normal operation of the existing fo ur large size sanitary landfill and composting sites, one new landfill site will soone be completed,and the4 prparation for construction of two incineration pla nts will start.

　　To strengthen protection of the ecological environment, programs for increasing the green coverage, the control of siol erosion, and the construction of natural reserves has been drawn up.

　　The Capital Economy is based on coordination between economic developmen and env ironmental protection, under which priority is given to high technology and tert iary industry. It encourages development of technical - intensive industries wit h low energy and water consumption, low pollution discharge and transportation, which require small space and yet produce high value increment products. By the year 2000, all the industrial pollution sources are required to comply with the discharge standards.

　　Through implementartion of the above mentioned measures,we ar confident that env ironmental protection, under which priority is given to high technology and tert iary industry. It encourages development of technicasl - intensive industries wi th low energy and water consumption, low pollution discharge and transportation, which require small space and yet produe high value increment products. By the year 2000, all the industrial pollution sources are required to comply with the dscharge standards.

　　Through implementation of the above mentioned measures, we ar confident that env ironmental quality can be improved in an obvious manner by the year 2000. By the year 2002,total pollutant discharge quantity will be under control and atmosphe ric environment and water enveronment will basically meet corresponding national envirobnmental quality standards; the harmless treatment ratio of urban refuse will exceeds 40%, By that time, environmental protection and economic constructi on will start to realize coordinated and simultaneous development.

　　Ladies and gintlemen, presentations made by various groups of CCICED and the cen tral government departments during the last two days of meetings are all valuabl e develovment stratigy and make efforts to develop the economy and protect the e nvironment so as to be well prepared as we enter the 21st century. We fully comp rehend that improvement of the environment and development of and given by domes tic and overseas friends. Friends from all over the world are welcome to Beijing for tourism,trade and investment, invluding various types of cooperation and vo mmunication, We do believe that reform and opening up have laid down a sound bas e for our future cooperation and have created the opportunity for pursuing such goals for our mutual benefit.

　　We are looking forward to your fresh ideas for improvement of the environmental quality and economic development in Beijing, to help us construct a developed, s table, and beautiful Beujing with clean environment, and to realize our mutual i deal-peace, friend-ship, and develpment.

　　Thank you very much.