China will take more measures to protect the country's deteriorating environment to contribute to the sustainable development of both China and the world, Chinese Vice Premier Zeng Peiyan said Sunday in Beijing.

"China's economic and social development is facing increasingly heavy pressure from environment and nature resources, marked by pollution and environmental degradation" Zeng said.

He pledged that the country will strive to build an environment-friendly society by further strengthening its legal framework, relying on scientific advancement and strongly promoting recycling economy.

The vice premier outlined four major tasks in combating environment degradation for the country, including adjusting economic structures, curbing pollution in rivers and lakes, shutting down heavily-polluted enterprises and enhancing international cooperation.

Zeng made the remarks at the closing ceremony of the annual meeting of the China Council for International Cooperation on the Environment and Development, the government's international advisory body.

The council consists of 50 senior government officials and experts from China and other countries and representatives of international organizations, including the United Nations Environment Program.

During the three-day meeting, members of the council focused their discussions on sustainable agricultural and rural development and drafted a report of recommendations to the Chinese government.

The council said in its report that it supports China's policy of seeking a new, scientific and sustainable approach to development by putting people first. The report recommended that China value the quality and efficiency of its economic growth.

The report highlighted six general recommendations, including implementing a broader vision linking ecological and food security,developing new ecological and economic-based national strategies to integrate water management and water quality and modernizing the management of China's protected areas.

Zeng thanked the council for the recommendations and promised that the government will take the recommendations seriously, as ithas in the past.

The vice premier said China will further enhance cooperation with the international community on environmental protection by introducing advanced technology and management methods.

Meanwhile, the country will as always actively participate in international affairs on environment and seriously implement environment-related international conventions it had acceded to, he said.

Zeng called on developed countries to take on more responsibilities for environmental protection, increase financial aid to developing countries and promote the popularization of environment-friendly technologies and management experience.

He also urged developed countries to further open their marketsto developing countries to ease the resource and environmental pressure faced by developing countries.

The next annual conference will be held in November 2005 and focus on sustainable development in the urban areas, according to the council's secretariat.

Source: Xinhua