Minister of Environmental Protection of China

The Press Center of the Fifth Session of the Twelfth National People's Congress held a media session at Media Center Hotel on Thursday. Chen Jining, China's Minister of Environmental Protection, answered questions about the enhancement of ecological environment protection from Chinese and foreign reporters. NBD reporter Li Biao seized a chance to raise a question concerning central environmental protection inspection.

(Li Biao from NBD)

NBD: The central environmental protection inspection is highly anticipated among the general public, but reports show that in some regions, enterprises always behaved great when the inspection team was there, but pollution continued as long as the team left. Have you ever noticed it? Do you have any complete solution? Thank you!

Chen Jining: Central environmental protection supervision is an important institutional design. So far, two batches of pilot programs have been completed. There will two batches more in preparation.

Judging from the supervision over 16 provinces, the results is evident. We urge the local governments to establish long-term environmental protection mechanisms. So far, 21 provinces across the country have issued their documents regarding clear responsibilities of the environmental protection, and 24 provinces have promulgated the party and government cadres of the ecological environment damage responsibility for accountability, the others are in the progress of soliciting the public opinions.

With regard to the situation brought up by the reporter, we had learned about that before, and it indeed exists, which reflects the weakened minds of local ecological development, the lacking of concepts of green-development, and also the responsibility is not accountable. 

The problem will be solved in four aspects.

Firstly, implementing the supervision task to the letter. This year, all the provinces will be covered by the environmental supervision. Prominent problem will be tackled with specific supervision. A comprehensive and systematic supervision work mechanism is to be built.

Secondly, the environmental supervision in prefecture-level city will be further promoted. This year, the supervision in counties and regions will be the priority.

Thirdly, a long-term supervision mechanism will be established and improved. Now the work is carried out as a reform plan. An environmental supervision rule will be formulated to lift the work to the legal level.

Fourthly, the supervision capability construction should be enhanced by setting up an environmental supervision office to coordinate all the supervision work and to ensure that the local governments implement the environmental protection work in a down-to-earth manner.

Email: gaohan@nbd.com.cn