Premier Zhu Rongji Sunday called for global efforts to fight against the serious pollution problems and ecological deterioration facing the entire mankind.

It is the common aspiration of the people of all nations for a better environment and a better future, and a historic call for coordination between global environmental protection and economic development, Zhu said.

The premier made the remarks in an address televised live nationwide Sunday evening to mark the World Environment Day, which falls on today.

Zhu said that looking back on the past millennium, especially since the Industrial Revolution, mankind has created unprecedented huge wealth while it has paid a heavy environmental cost.

"Ecological destruction and environmental pollution has posed a serious threat to the subsistence and development of mankind, and solving environmental problems has become an important mission that can not afford any delay," he said.

"People of all nations should join hands to protect the Earth - our common homeland," Zhu said.

Zhu also called for concerted nationwide efforts to fight the country's serious pollution problems and ecological deterioration.

He said the Chinese government has attached great importance to protect the environment and has drawn up a series of laws, regulations and measures for this purpose.

Positive progress have been made with China's unremitting efforts to environmental protection and ecological construction along with the economic restructuring in recent years, the premier said.

However, he said, "we must keep sober-minded that the country's environmental pollution still remains rather serious and ecological deterioration has not yet been brought under control."

Describing the sandstorms that hit many parts of the country repeatedly this year as an alarm for the entire Chinese nation, Zhu said: "It is a long-term and arduous task for us to protect the ecology and improve the environment."

China will face greater pressure and challenges in environmental protection as it is marching towards the third-stage strategic goal of its modernization drive, he said.

"We must earnestly implement our sustainable development strategy and put greater efforts to environmental protection and ecological construction," Zhu said.

China will rely on science and technology and increase investment for conserving water and soil, curbing environmental pollution, and improving the country's ecological environment through efforts to plant more trees and grass under a national overall plan.

"We believe through the hard work and unremitting efforts of the Chinese people, the rivers and lakes across China will become more clean, the sky more clear and the landscape in the country more beautiful", the premier said.

He also promised that the Chinese government will continue to adhere to the principles concerning international environmental cooperation, actively join the international community to solve global environmental problems, and carry out related international environmental conventions so as to make due contributions to protecting the global environment.
　　

(From People's Daily)