Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao met in Beijing Thursday with the foreign guests attending the 2008 Annual General Meeting of the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development (CCICED).

During the meeting, the two sides exchanged views on how China could properly handle the relation between stable, fast economic growth and environmental protection, and achieve sustainable development, against the backdrop of the aggravating global financial crisis and the downturn of global growth.

The 2008 Annual General Meeting of the CCICED was scheduled here for Nov.12-14, featuring the theme of "Harmonious Development through Innovation". All representatives of the Council's Chinese and international members as well as its task forces' co-chairs were invited to attend the meeting.

The Council is a non-profit international advisory body established upon the approval of the Chinese government in 1992. The main task of the Council includes exchanging international successful experience in the field of environment and development, and studying key environment and development issues in China.

(Xinhua News Agency November 14, 2008)