What better way to celebrate a clean environment than by going for a leisurely swim?

 

European Union (EU) Ambassador to China Serge Abou said he would be delighted to do just that by joining Guangdong Governor Huang Huahua for a few laps in the Pearl River some day.

 

"The governor told me that the water quality in the river had improved so much in recent years that he was able to go for a swim in it last year. I'd be glad to compete with him because I like to swim, too," said Abou.

 

"I appreciate Guangdong's efforts to tackle water pollution. We will work together to deepen our cooperation on environment protection," he added.

 

Abou has been visiting south China's Guangdong Province for the past two days. His comments highlighted the joint efforts by China and the EU to protect the environment and conserve energy.

 

"The EU attaches the utmost importance to cooperation in terms of environment protection and energy conservation with China, as the country now confronts such problems as water and air pollution and insufficient energy resources," Abou said.

 

The ambassador added that the EU was planning to set up an energy and environmental technology center in China to help resolve the country's ecological challenges.

 

"The EU has lots of experience with developing energy-saving technology and environment protection. And I believe that the establishment of such a centre will help China better tackle environmental and energy problems," Abou said.

 

The two sides have already worked closely together in the fields of science and technology, he added.

 

For example, China is participating in the Framework Program for Research and Technological Development, the EU's largest scientific research program, the ambassador said.

 

China was the third most active non-EU country in the Sixth Framework Program, which ended last year, taking part in nearly 200 projects involving science, technology and the environment.

 

In addition to the Galileo (a satellite navigation project) and ITER (international thermo-nuclear fusion testing reactor) projects, China and the EU are also working together on bio-technology, information technology, industrial standardization, environment protection and pollution control, said Abou.

 

"We are also working on the EU-China cooperative plan for the period of 2007-12. And we have worked out clear goals for environment protection. The EU will spend some 50 million euros (US$67.3 million) on a cooperative effort with the Chinese environmental protection authorities to reduce pollution and save energy resources," Abou said.

 

Last week, the EU also agreed with China's Ministry of Construction to jointly hold a high-level seminar focusing on energy conservation in the construction field.

 

(China Daily April 13, 2007)