Japan, China to Jointly Tackle Environmental Issues

Beijing –Visiting Japanese Environment Minister Masatoshi Wakabayashi and his Chinese counterpart Zhou Shengxian on Tuesday agreed that the two countries will cooperate further to tackle a broad range of environment issues.

Wakabayashi and Zhou, head of China’s State Environmental Protection Administration, also agreed on a plan to hold here a meeting of senior officials as early as next week to consider ways to curb the emissions of automobile exhaust fumes and greenhouse gases.

The two countries will also continue working-level talks on air, water and soil pollutions.

Wakabayashi called for a joint research into photochemical smog, which has tainted the air in many Japanese places since around spring.

Zhou showed a positive stance toward the proposal.

In connection with the issue, Japan plans to provide to China equipment to measure ozone density levels by the end of March 2008.

On Wednesday, Wakabayashi will meet with Li Changjiang, head of the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine.

At the meeting, Wakabayashi is expected to ask China to take steps to ensure the safety of the country’s foods and allay concern about Chinese export items among many countries.END

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