Sustainable development is the focus of the 21st Century Forum that opened yesterday in Beijing, attracting more than 200 Chinese and foreign scholars.

Delegates, including former state leaders, delivered speeches highlighting the need for international cooperation in the face of environmental deterioration and energy shortages, underlining the teamwork needed to implement development without causing further damage to the environment.

Samuel Berger, former national security adviser to the US president, said: "We must find ways to work effectively together -- economically, politically and environmentally -- to build a sustainable world of peace and prosperity for our children."

He said China and the US ought to take two tracks -- innovation and cooperation -- to produce a win-win relationship.

"We already cooperate on many fronts regarding the environment, but we need to do more to pull these efforts together and put them on a more strategic footing," he added.

Furthermore, there is potential for partnership in areas including energy, environment and public health.

The forum will end on Wednesday.

(China Daily September 6, 2005)