Sustainable development of China "facing major challenges"
Jun 04.06.2012, XNUMX - China's sustainable development faces major challenges, ranging from a fragile natural environment to scarce resources, senior Chinese officials said ahead of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development in Rio de Janeiro.
A national report released Friday to present the country's position on sustainable development said that, with the exception of the eastern coastal areas, most of China's regions are still in a middle or early stage of industrialization and urbanization ,
Officially, some 122 millions of Chinese are living in poverty after last year's readjustment of the country's 20 rural poverty line. China has the most extensive, aging population in the world, more than 100 millions, whose social security is at a very low level.
China's fresh water per capita accounts for 28 percent of the world average, 40 for arable land and 25 for forest resources.
China's recoverable reserves of oil per capita are 7,7 percent of the world average, and reserves of iron ore and copper are each 17 percent of the global average.
"Rio +20 is an admonition to Chinese politicians at all levels that time will not wait for anyone in the race against rapidly deteriorating environmental conditions," said Yong Rong, Greenpeace East Asia director of political and public affairs. One in four people in China today must drink poor quality tap water, and environmental disasters cost the country 2600 billion yuan in losses last year alone, she said. "What is missing is not strong political will from Beijing, but concrete actions at the lower levels of government that will lead to actual changes," said Yong.
The report was released less than three weeks before the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, also known as Rio + 20.
The event is expected to attract as many as 135 heads of state and as many as 50.000 participants, including government officials, private sector participants and non-governmental organizations discussing ways to reduce poverty and promote better social justice and environmental protection.
"The conference aims to send a positive, clear and strong signal to revitalize international cooperation ... to strengthen the pillar-like development role of the United Nations and to breathe new vitality into global, sustainable development," the report said.
After a few rounds of negotiations behind closed doors, negotiators from across 190 countries and regions still need to reach consensus on an action plan draft that must be ready for approval if the current world leaders are to join the 20. June, three-day summit in Rio de Janeiro arrive.
"All participants should show enough political will ... make a concerted effort and reach consensus as early as possible instead of postponing serious questions and problems to the last stage of the meeting," said Du Ying, vice minister of the National Development and Reform Commission, who also said Head of the Preparatory Committee of the Chinese Delegation is.
(China Daily)
