China and Britain are entering a new era of partnership in
environmental issues that goes beyond the existing ones in economy,
culture, sports and science, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown
said on Saturday.
British Prime Minister
Gordon Brown?shakes hands with Shanghai mayor Han Zheng and
watched by Chinese and British officials during a ceremony to
acknowledge Britain's participation in the World Expo 2010
Shanghai, at the State Guest House in Shanghai, 19 January
2008.
Wrapping up his maiden visit to China as prime minister, Brown
said the UK would provide 50 million pounds from an Environmental
Transformation Fund to boost energy efficiency and clean energy
projects in China.
The two countries will extend the European Union-China
near-zero-emission coal program, with money from the fund, too, he
said.
Brown visited a highly efficient gas-fired power plant in
Beijing and studied the plans of an eco-city to be built near
Shanghai to manifest his eagerness to team up with China to tackle
global warming.
"We have entered a new era where there's a higher level of
dialogue and cooperation," Brown told a press conference at
Shanghai's Urban Planning Exhibition Hall.
"Today I want to mention that the higher level of cooperation is
now existing... that is the environment.
"China and Britain now have a new era of cooperation that exists
beyond the economy and cultural and sports activities and
scientific cooperation. We are now entering this new era of
environmental cooperation."
Dongtan eco-city will be built on Chongming island near Shanghai
through a partnership that includes UK construction company Arup.
Scheduled for completion in 2010, Dongtan will house 500,000 people
and allow vehicles powered only by electricity or hydrogen to run
on its roads.
About 90 percent of all wastes generated in Dongtan will be
recycled or reused, and the eventual aim is to make it a zero-waste
city.
Brown formally handed over Britain's acceptance letter to take
part in the 2010 Shanghai World Expo to Shanghai Mayor Han
Zheng.
Britain, which started the Expo trend, will have the Pavilion of
Ideas, a fascinating cube with space-age lighting designed by
Heatherwich Studio, as its national pavilion at the Expo.
Brown left for India yesterday morning on the second leg of his
tour to Asia.
(China Daily January 21, 2008)
