U.S., Chinese Environmental Chiefs Start Regular Meetings on Cleaner Atmosphere

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The world's established superpower and superpolluter is meeting with an emerging superpower and superpolluter, seeking new and greener common ground.

WASHINGTON — The world's established superpower and superpolluter is meeting with an emerging superpower and superpolluter, seeking new and greener common ground.


Chiefs of the environmental agencies of the United States and China said Tuesday they want to collaborate more to reduce air pollution, water contamination and harmful effects of toxic chemicals.


Stephen Johnson, administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, says the Bush administration is determined to create a healthier, cleaner world for "the next generation in both China and the United States."


The inaugural meeting of Johnson and Xie Zhenhua, minister of China's State Environmental Protection Administration. In December 2003, their agencies created a joint committee on environmental cooperation. Its first priorities are to manage air pollution, cut emissions from diesel engines, prevent water contamination and reduce the impact of toxic substances.


A meeting of the two agency heads is planned for once every two years.


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"Environmental protection is the common cause and responsibility of human beings," Xie said. "I sincerely wish to work with EPA and other U.S. agencies to further deepen our environmental cooperation and make contributions to the global environment not only for us, but also for our future generations."


It is not the EPA's first foray into global politics on the environment.


The agency already coordinates many such projects in Asia and other regions. The administration of President Bill Clinton negotiated 10 projects with the Chinese government on air quality, public health and climate change in 1999.


The U.S. government has supplied air monitoring equipment and trained officials how to use it in close to a dozen Chinese cities, so the public can get daily air quality reports. It helped Shanghai track car pollution and plan a vehicle inspection and maintenance program.


The EPA and the California Air Resources Board provided technical help, too, for Chinese authorities to set up an air-quality monitoring network expected to cover 100 cities.


Public education campaigns intended to encourage people to conserve energy and protect the environment also have been coordinated between the EPA's Office of International Affairs and a nongovernmental group, the Global Village of Beijing, which used TV and radio.


Source: Associated Press


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