The 2012 Annual General Meeting (AGM) of China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development (CCICED) was held in Beijing on December 12-14 with the theme of Regional Balance and Green Development.

　　In an exclusive interview by Xinhua News Agency, MEP Vice Minister, Secretary General of CCICED Li Ganjie acknowledged that the contribution and implication of CCICED on the history of China's environment and development is seen not only at present but also in the future. CCICED has become the longest, most influential high-level dialogue mechanism in the field of environment and development at home and abroad.

　　Vice Minister Li said that the Chinese Government approved the establishment of CCICED in 1992 in order to provide a platform for high-level policy dialogue, exchange and disseminate successful international experience and advanced concepts in the field of environment and development and carry out policy research on major problems concerning China’s environment and development. The Council shall provide foresighted, strategic and precautionary policy recommendations to help China to establish a resource-efficient and environment-friendly society and achieve sustainable development.

　　“The Chinese government highly values and support CCICED,” Vice Minister Li continued, “and the Council in all the phases is chaired by State Council leaders.” Each phase of the Council runs for five years and this is the fifth phase (2012-2016). For each phase, the Chinese government will invite about 50 high-level persons and experts to serve as Council Members. Over 200 high-level persons and experts have taken part in the Council’s work by now. In addition, the Chinese Government has doubled its financial support to the fifth phase compared with that for the fourth phase and major donors have also increased their funds. The funds that have been put in place total USD 24 million up to now.

　　As an international non-profit high-level advisory body consisting of outstanding experts in environment and development, the Council sets up topics for policy research or special research according to the needs of the Chinese Government and related departments. These topics are closely connected with the major trend of international environment and development and the priority of domestic environmental work. The Council invites Chinese and international experts to jointly conduct researches and provide policy recommendations.

　　Li stated that for the purpose of making policy recommendations in the field of environment and development, policy research is the basic approach of the Council as well as the core and foundation of its work.

　　Vice Minister Li gave some examples. In 1993, the Council proposed to abandon extensive production pattern and replace it with an intensive one. In 1996, the Chinese government identified the need to shift from extensive economic growth to intensive growth in the Outline of the 9th Five-Year Plan and the Long-term Goal in 2010. In 2011, the Council put forward the thought of establishing an official evaluation system conducive to green transformation of the economy. This advice was reflected the Plan on Energy Conservation and Emission Reduction in 12th Five-Year Plan Period issued by the State Council in August 2012. The Plan specifies that the State Council will carry out evaluation of provincial governments on target responsibility for energy conservation and emission reduction. The evaluation results, as an important part of comprehensive assessment for leaders, will be incorporated into performance management of governments and be linked to accountability system.    　

　 "The 18th National Congress of the CPC highlighted the objective of building a beautiful country, achieving sustainable development of the Chinese nation and moving towards a new ear of socialist ecological progress. To build a beautiful country, in essence, is to establish a resource-efficient and environment-friendly society in line with the needs of ecological progress and strive for economic prosperity, healthy ecosystems and a happy life.” Vice Minister Li said, “The new phase of the Council will carry out researches from macro, meso and mirco perspectives in response to the difficulties, priorities and focuses in the field of environment and development. It will make foresighted, strategic and feasible policy recommendations for the Chinese government.”

　　"The UN Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 called for global partnership on sustainable development and urged developed countries to help developing countries to solve the issues and conflicts on environment and development. CCICED was founded against this backdrop.” He added that the Council has made far-reaching impact on policy adjustment and the legislation of China’s environment and development. In the next five years, the Council will focus on regional balance and green development, environmental and social problems amid green transformation, management and policy innovation as well as China’s role in global green development in its policy researches, working for China’s green transformation and social progress and contributing global sustainable development.