Chinese non-government organizations (NGO) have long pledged to play a bigger role in environmental protection, but faced with various challenges and needed more supportive hands, according to some Chinese NGOs.

Chinese NGOs need operational funds and support of governments at all levels, they said.

"The role that we want to play is a bridge between the public and the government in the aspect of environment protection and we hope to help the government do something to that effect," said An Xu, a member of the Friend of Green, based in the north China port city of Tianjin.

Chinese NGOs need to know more about environmental protection affairs, get further involved in the design and supervision of major environment related projects, and have more say in the country's environment related affairs, said Huang Haoming, general secretary of the China International Civil Organizations Promotion Association.

"Social and civil forces can often play a very big role in improving the public's awareness of environmental protection," said Zhu Guangyao, deputy director of the State Environmental Protection Administration.

"Activities sponsored by NGOs such as the Friend of Nature have helped a lot in advocating environmental protection concepts," Zhu said. 

(Xinhua News Agency June 3, 2005)