China.org.cn | October 23, 2020
Speaker:
Zhao Yingmin, vice minister of ecology and environment
Chairperson:
Shou Xiaoli, deputy head of the Press Bureau of the State Council Information Office
Date:
Oct. 21, 2020
Shou Xiaoli:
Ladies and gentlemen, good morning. Welcome to the press conference of the State Council Information Office (SCIO). The year 2020 is the final year of the 13th Five-Year Plan. In the following days, the SCIO will hold a series of press conferences to introduce the country's economic and social development over this period.
Today, I am very pleased to invite Mr. Zhao Yingmin, vice minister of ecology and environment, to brief you about issues regarding environmental protection in the 13th Five-Year Plan period and take your questions. First of all, I invite Mr. Zhao to make an opening statement.
Zhao Yingmin:
Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, friends from the media, good morning! I am very pleased to have the opportunity to brief you about issues related to environment protection during the 13th Five-Year Plan period. First of all, on behalf of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, I would like to thank you for your concern, support, participation, and guidance in regard to ecological and environmental protection.
Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, historic, transitional and overall changes have taken place in terms of ecological and environmental protection. The government has made greater efforts in this area than ever before. General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out on many occasions that China should uphold the concept that lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets, adopt a holistic approach to conserving our mountains, rivers, forests, farmland, lakes, and grasslands, and improve the development of our geographical space so as to enhance ecological conservation and environmental protection.
The 13th Five-Year Plan period now drawing to a close marks the completion of the drive to build a moderately prosperous society in all respects and also in launching and gradually winning the critical battle of pollution prevention and control. In the past five years, we have regarded this as our main task. Major headway has been made in combating pollution and various ecological and environmental protection tasks, and the main objectives and tasks put forward in the outline have been basically accomplished. In the period, we have seen the greatest improvement in the quality of the national ecological environment and the best development of the cause of environmental protection so far. People's sense of gain, happiness and security in regard to their ecological environment has been continuously enhanced.