The influence of climatic changes on China's social and economic
development has aroused heated discussion among more than 200
participants in the country's first climate conference, which
opened in Beijing Friday.
Li
Peng, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's
Congress, said in his congratulatory message that China has made
great achievements in climate studies by tracing the latest
developments of global climate research.
Li
called for more frequent international exchanges and cooperation in
this respect, so as to provide a better service for the country's
social and economic development as well as the people's everyday
life.
Hu
Qili, vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese
People's Political Consultative Conference, told the conference
that climate change has become one of the key factors affecting a
country's sustainable development.
Hu
said China's progress is now hindered mainly by three problems --
the rapidly expanding population, shortage of resources and
environmental deterioration -- the settlement of which will all
depend upon climate conditions.
Therefore, it is of great significance to get to know thoroughly
the patterns of climate change in China and the surrounding areas,
Hu said.
Qin Dahe, director of the China Meteorological Administration, said
that China is now marching ahead rapidly in research into the
climate and various climatic changes with the establishment of a
comprehensive observation network covering the atmosphere, ocean
and land.
China is able to offer predictions on the effects of the climate up
to ten days, a month or even a year ahead. Experts can also give
advance calculations of the spring and autumn grain outputs.
Modes of assessing the influence brought by climatic changes on
agriculture, water resources, forests and grasslands, as well as
the peoples' living environment and their health have also been
established, Qin said.
Chinese experts have made an analysis of the present situation and
future trend of the discharge and absorption of various gases
leading to the greenhouse effect in China, said Qin.
According to him, global warming has become a sensitive issue in
international diplomacy related to the environment.
The two-day conference will discuss the national climate program
and the plan for China's climate observation system, which will
outline the direction of the country's climate work for the next 10
years.
(Xinhua News
Agency April 5, 2002)