Ministers from over 50 Asia Pacific nations met in Seoul Monday for a two-day conference to discuss sustainable development.

Pan Yue, deputy administrator of the State Environmental Protection Administration, told the meeting that China would endeavor to realize healthy "green growth" through new environmental policies and strategies.

The Fifth Ministerial Conference on Environment and Development (MCED) was organized by the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). Its theme is realizing "green development" in the region.

Also attending were South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun, UN Environment Program Executive Director Klaus Topfer, ESCAP Executive Secretary Kim Hak-su, former Prime Minister of Japan Ryutaro Hashimoto and 42 ministers from 58 ESCAP members.

Pan said the essence of "green growth" is "to maintain economic development and environmental sustainability at the same time," but admitted that "in China, as the economy has developed faster, the environment has suffered."

He said China is pushing a strategy for "full-scale, harmonious and sustainable development," a concept of a "harmonious society that stresses the importance of harmony between people and nature."

The "recycling economy" is being developed and effective evaluation of large-scale projects enhanced, according to Pan.

He added that public awareness and environmental supervision are being promoted, sharing information with ordinary people and non-governmental organizations and encouraging their participation.

"We are currently piloting a scheme to take account of environmental factors in gross domestic product calculations in 10 areas of the country, and aim to roll it out nationwide within three to six years," said Pan.

He promised that China would shoulder its responsibility in the world, positively participating in international cooperation, fulfilling its obligations and making contributions to solve environmental issues.

The MCED ministerial meeting is due to end today after adoption of a ministerial declaration and regional implementation plan on sustainable economic development.

(Xinhua News Agency March 29, 2005)