China and Russia have decided to jointly monitor water environment on boundary rivers starting from February 2005, say sources with the environmental protection administration in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province.

The two sides is expected to conduct a joint feasibility study on pollution prevention and control on Heilongjiang and Wusuli rivers and carry out in-depth cooperation on a host of other environmental issues, according to Chinese officials attending a meeting between the environmental protection authorities of Heilongjiang Province and Khabarovskiy Kray Tuesday in Khabarovsk.

Beginning February 2005, the two countries will conduct three joint surveys on three sections of the two boundary rivers and collect samples for independent monitoring in June and October, the officials say.

Meanwhile, China and Russia will set up a regular meeting mechanism to monitor the ecosystem in the border water as well as the pollution control technologies used by enterprises along the two rivers.

The two countries have also agreed to map out a 2006-2009 scheme for the joint survey, build a water quality evaluation system based on widely accepted international standards, work out scientific ways of sampling and set up a quality assurance system to guide the laboratory work.

Russia has been concerned about the ecological protection and pollution conditions of the Heilongjiang River basin, especially the water quality of Heilongjiang and Wusuli rivers.

China and Russia signed a joint memorandum in February 2002, and designated special departments to take charge of monitoring and improving water quality in boundary rivers. The two sides took the joint monitoring of the two rivers for eight times between 2002 and 2003. 

(Xinhua News Agency September 22, 2004)