President Hu Jintao said at a Wednesday working conference on population, resources and the environment that more research needs to be done on a population development strategy. Medium- and long-term population development plans should be created and innovations in family planning should be introduced.

Strict cropland protection policies should be implemented, research and assessment of land resources strengthened, and the prevention and control of geographical disasters enhanced.

The president said environmental monitoring, pollution control in key rivers and regions, and environmental protection in rural areas should all be reinforced.

Premier Wen Jiabao said at the conference that the low birth rate in China should be maintained and a system should be established under which family planning among the country's floating population is managed according to physical residence.

Wen said efforts should be made to clean up development zones of all types and prevent illegal use of cropland. Those responsible for approving illegal land use will be punished severely, he warned.

The focus in environmental protection will be on the economical use of resources and development of a circular economy that is based on the most efficient use of resources and the most effective protection of the environment.

Wen added that water conservation was another important issue.

(China Daily March 11, 2004)