China's State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA) signed Tuesday a memorandum of understanding with German automaker Volkswagen on the control of pollutant discharge of motor vehicles.

In the cooperation project, the two sides will focus on a pollutant-preventive technique on diesel motors, pollutant discharge standards of motors, as well as popularization of pollution control policies in the field.

According to the memorandum, Volkswagen will provide technical and financial support to the project, which lasts till 2002.

Xie Zhenhua, director of the SEPA, said that tight control on pollutant discharge from motor vehicles will greatly benefit China's endeavor to effectively safeguard the environment.

An environment-friendly technique of motor vehicles will also push forward sustained development in the motor industry, Xie said.

The memorandum was signed during the ongoing China-Germany Environmental Cooperation Conference 2000, which is being held between December 12 and 13.

(People's Daily 12/13/2000)