Vice Premier Zeng Peiyan made three proposals in Nairobi Monday to enhance cooperation with African countries on environmental protection, in a bid to maintain sustainable growth for the developing countries. 

China, the biggest developing country, and Africa, the continent with the biggest number of developing countries, share vast prospects for cooperation on environmental protection, said Zeng at the first China-Africa Environmental Cooperation Conference held on the sidelines of a UN environment meeting.

Zeng said the first proposal China made is to expand the scope of exchanges on environmental protection between China and Africa. The two sides may focus on environment problems of common concern, reinforcing dialogue in fields such as biodiversity, policy-making and legislation on environmental protection.

China also wanted to press ahead with technical cooperation on environmental protection, said Zeng, adding the Chinese side is ready to offer technical assistance to African countries.

Zeng said China proposed further step-up of personnel training, as the Chinese government is willing to provide training programs on environmental protection for environmental officials and specialists form African countries, under the African Human Resources Development Fund of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.

The conference, a follow-up of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, will advance the environmental cooperation between China and African countries through enhanced mutual understanding and communication.

The Chinese government convened China-Africa Cooperation Forum 2000 in Beijing. The second conference was held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, which emphasized strengthening cooperation in many fields including the development of human resources.

(Xinhua News Agency February 22, 2005)