The OECD Environment Policy Committee Meeting at Ministerial Level was held in Paris, France from Apr. 28-29. Vice Minister of Ministry of Environmental Protection Zhou Jian led a delegation to attend the meeting. He delivered a keynote speech on "Jointly Promoting Environmental Cooperation Partnership and Optimizing Economic Growth through Environmental Protection".

Zhou Jian introduced the latest development of China's environmental protection and related environmental economic policies, particularly the positive progress made in pollution reduction with declined total discharge of COD and SO2 for the first time in recent years.

He noted, "China is dubbed as world factory. In fact it is at the downstream of another round of global industrial restructuring, undertaking much risk of industrial transfer and accumulation, which has directly exacerbated environmental problems in part of China. While China is trading on surplus, it also bears ecological deficit. To effectively address environmental challenges posed by globalization, China must adjust the strategic relationship between environment and development under the guidance of Scientific Outlook on Development, transform the mode of economic development and facilitate the upgrade of industrial structure."

Zhou Jian highlighted, "China is in a quest for effective environmental economic policies in order to take integrated approach to solve environmental problems and to ensure smooth implementation of development strategies through environment-friendly policies. Up to now, the four environmental economic policies MEP has introduced, namely Green Credit, Green Insurance, Green Securities and Green Trade, have played a positive role in curbing blind expansion of high pollution and high energy consumption industries to optimize economic development through environmental protection."

His speech drew much attention of the participants and sparked lively discussion at the meeting.

The ministerial meeting is held biennially. It focuses on such topics as global environmental issues and environmental policies and forms guiding documents for future cooperation. The theme of this meeting is Environment and Global Competitiveness.

During the meeting Zhou Jian also met with Secretary General and Deputy Secretary General of OECD, Environmental Ministers from Australia, Sweden and Italy and exchanged views with them on strengthening bilateral cooperation.