Chinese Vice-Premier Zeng Peiyan met Thursday with David Anderson, minister of environment of Canada, and his party.

Zeng said the Chinese government attaches great importance to ecological protection and construction, and with years of efforts, its capacity for sustainable development is increasing.

While accelerating economic development, China will go on adjusting its resources and industrial structures, reducing natural resources consumption and alleviating environmental pollution for the harmonious development of humans and nature, he said.

Zeng also thanked the Canadian government for its fiscal support to China, hoping the two nations will further enhance their exchanges and cooperation in the environmental area.

Anderson said he is pleased at China's achievements in ecological protection and construction, and briefed Zeng on the two countries' environment cooperation projects.

The guests are here at the invitation of the State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA). Prior to the meeting, Anderson and Xie Zhenhua, director of SEPA, re-signed a memorandum of understanding on China-Canada environmental cooperation.

(Xinhua News Agency September 4, 2003)