A senior U.S. official Thursday in Beijing called for the United States and China to make joint efforts to protect the environment and build a cleaner future.

Steven Johnson, administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), said in a written statement that as major contributors to the global economy, the United States and China share very important responsibilities in maintaining a healthy global environment. He called on the two countries to work together to improve the environment.

Johnson started his week-long China tour last Saturday. He visited Beijing, Lijiang, a city in southwestern China's Yunnan province, and Shanghai.

During his stay here, he met with Zhou Shengxian, head of China's State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA). The two sides recognized their progress in cooperation on the prevention of water and air pollution, and the management and treatment of hazardous wastes.

Johnson said he shared identical views with Chinese officials on the necessity and significance in fighting global pollution.

The two countries also adopted a cooperation program in environmental protection during Johnson's visit.

The program calls on the two countries to intensify transfers of technical information, personnel exchanges to demonstrate environmental management approaches and technologies.

EPA and SEPA will work together to establish and strengthen environmental regulations for the management of hazardous and solid wastes in China, including medical waste, lead-acid batteries, electronic waste, tires, and sludge generated by industrial and domestic waste water treatment, the strategy said.

Source: Xinhua