President Hu Jintao said at a Wednesday working conference on
population, resources and the environment that more research needs
to be done on a population development strategy. Medium- and
long-term population development plans should be created and
innovations in family planning should be introduced.
Strict cropland protection policies should be implemented,
research and assessment of land resources strengthened, and the
prevention and control of geographical disasters enhanced.
The president said environmental monitoring, pollution control
in key rivers and regions, and environmental protection in rural
areas should all be reinforced.
Premier Wen Jiabao said at the conference that the low birth
rate in China should be maintained and a system should be
established under which family planning among the country's
floating population is managed according to physical residence.
Wen said efforts should be made to clean up development zones of
all types and prevent illegal use of cropland. Those responsible
for approving illegal land use will be punished severely, he
warned.
The focus in environmental protection will be on the economical
use of resources and development of a circular economy that is
based on the most efficient use of resources and the most effective
protection of the environment.
Wen added that water conservation was another important
issue.
(China Daily March 11, 2004)