An official at the State Development Planning Commission told Xinhua that these efforts has created necessary conditions for balanced economic and environmental development in the long run.

Rule of law was high on the agenda. By now, China enacted six laws on environmental protection, nine laws on natural resources management, more than 30 administrative regulations on environmental protection and resources management, another 30 laws and regulations concerning sustainable development, and issued more standards and local regulations in this effort, the official said.

The strategy to develop the western regions, to return farmland to forests, bio-agriculture, and to impose seasonal fishing bans are all the latest efforts the government has made to promote its sustainable development strategy.

According to the strategy, the government will focus on improving people's living standard, guaranteeing the peaceful coexistence between man and nature, man and environment, as well as sustainable, rapid and healthy economic development, in order that people can use the natural resources and protect the environment for good.

Years of hard effort has basically brought China's worsening environmental pollution under control, with environment quality in some cities and regions improving to some extent, the official said, adding that the strategy has won widespread support from the public.

Statistics showed that the total investment in pollution treatment in 1999 amounted to 82.3 billion yuan, accounting for 1 percent of China's gross domestic product, according to the official.

With environment improving in urban areas, the government turned to rural areas. It has opened more than 2,000 bio-agricultural pilots across the country, covering 13.7 percent of China's farmland.

(Xinhua 10/04/2000)