About 800 scientists from more than 70 countries and from international groups are taking part in the conference.

Wen said the Chinese Government would actively fulfil the obligations under the relevant international conventions and work together with other countries to make greater contributions to civilization and the development of humankind.

According to the latest national survey, China is facing serious land degradation caused by water loss and soil erosion, which affects over one-third of its total land mass.

Wen made it clear that China will "regard water and soil conservation as an important task for ecological improvement and environmental protection to promote better co-ordination among the population, resources, the environment and economic development."

Promising to accelerate the large-scale ecological improvements that have been taking place since 1989, Wen affirmed that priority will be given to soil-erosion control on the upper reaches of China's major rivers, such as the Yangtze River and the Yellow River; to areas around the cities of Beijing and Tianjin plagued by frequent sandstorms; to the protection of natural forests; and to turning erosion-prone hill-farming land into woodland.

Wen promised that the funds earmarked for such environmental efforts would be increased in the years to come.

He said he hoped more foreign advanced technologies and experience can be introduced to China through more international exchanges and co-ordination.

Wen said he was confident that, by the middle of the 21st century, "green mountains will be seen all the time, with blue waters flowing forever throughout China" with the help of long-term massive environmental rehabilitation.

Professor Samir A. El-Swaify, a founder of the International Soil Conservation Organization, addressed the conference on behalf of the organization's board of directors and said: "The challenges that humankind faces in implementing soil and water conservation continue to mount."

(China Daily May 28, 2002)