ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION TO BE IMPORTANT SECTOR IN CHINA.

BEIJING, March 1 Asia Pulse - China's environmental protection industry is expected to face unprecedented development opportunities over the the next few years to become a new growth point of the national economy, official sources said.

At a two-day meeting on Sino-Japanese cooperation in environmental protection on February 28, Xie Xuren, vice-minister in charge of the State Economic and Trade Commission (SETC), said the Chinese government has outlined a goal for ecological construction and environmental protection in its 10th five-year plan (2001-2005) for national economic development and social progress.

The goal is to stop further ecological deterioration in China in five years, to improve the environmental quality in its cities, reduce the emission of pollutants by 10 per cent from 2000 onwards, and make progress in conserving and protecting natural resources.

To reach the goal, China will greatly develop its environmental protection industry. It is estimated that about 700 billion yuan, or 1.3 per cent of the GDP, will be put into the country's environment sector between 2001-2005, of which 550 billion yuan will be used for air and water pollution prevention and treatment.

With the implementation of the plan and with Beijing's preparations for the 2008 Olympic Games, China will have a rapidly growing market in environmental protection, Xie said.

During the five-year period, the environmental protection ...