Vice Minister of Ministry of Environmental Protection Wu Xiaoqing met with a delegation led by Austrian Vice Minister for Economic Affairs and Labor Josef Mayer. They exchanged views on developing cooperation in the field of environmental industry and environmental issues of common interest.

Wu Xiaoqing briefed the guests on the development of China's environmental protection industry. He said, "Along with great progress of the environmental cause, the environmental industry has also enjoyed fast growth and grown into one of the most dynamic industries with great potential in China. To meet the environmental target raised in the Eleventh Five-Year Program for National Economic and Social Development, the Chinese government is expected to invest over 1.5 trillion yuan, focusing on the development of technologies and facilities to prevent and control pollution caused by air, water, solid wastes and organic wastes. This also offers unprecedented opportunities for related research and industrial development. Austria has rich experience and leading technologies in the field of environmental protection that are worth learning for China. I wish Austrian institutes and companies will find more opportunities for cooperation in China's expanding market for environmental industry and open up a sound situation for mutual benefit and win-win deal. "

Referring to climate change and other global environmental issues, Wu Xiaoqing noted, "As a big and responsible developing country, China has always valued environmental protection and acted positively in combating global environmental issues. China has always maintained that environmental issues are, in the ultimate analysis, development issues and they need to be gradually solved in the process of development. Therefore, the Chinese government proposed to accelerate the historic transformation of environmental protection, optimize economic growth through environmental protection and take drastic measures for large scale environmental clean-up and ecological building. Efforts will also be made for industrial restructuring and change of development mode."

Mayer appreciated China's development in environmental work. He raised hope for closed exchanges and effective cooperation in the field of environmental protection to jointly boost the development of environmental industry.