Ladies and Gentlemen,

As scheduled by the Environmental Protection and Resources Conservation Committee of the National People's Congress, the 2007 International Forum on Environmental Legislation and Sustainable Development is to take place on December 1-2, 2007 in Beijing. On behalf of the NPC, I warmly welcome you to attend the international convention on environmental legislation.

Since 1996, China has promulgated or revised a series of environmental protection laws on Prevention of Water Pollution、Protection of the Sea、Prevention of atmospheric pollution、Prevention of noise pollution、Prevention of Pollution Waste、Environmental Impact Assessment、Prevention of radioactive waste, etc and other laws on water, clean production, renewable energy resources, agriculture, grasslands and husbandry which are closely related to environmental protection. Up to now, 9 environmental protection laws and 15 natural resources protection laws have been enacted and put into effect in China. Ever-increasing importance is attached in China's environmental protection laws to the prevention principle, whole-process management, clean production, as well as control of pollution sources and total quantity of pollutants, and the above mentioned laws are enacted toward the orientation of maintaining a sustainable nature.

Nevertheless, it can be clearly seen that the tendency of environmental pollution, ecological deterioration, waste and destruction of resources has not been got radically checked in this country. At the present time and for a considerably long period of time to come, China will be seen to shoulder a heavy task in the fields of environmental protection and save of resources. Given this situation, we would like to learn, draw on and absorb the rich experience gained by overseas countries in the development of their legal institutions on environmental protection and resources conservation, so as to promote and expedite the development of such legal systems in China.

The main topics of the forthcoming forum cover a series of issues including, among others, atmosphere, ocean, land, desert, island, wild plants and animals, nature preservation zone, global climate, noise, waste solids, urban planning and environmental interests. The organizing committee will invite the professional personnel from governmental departments, research institutions, institutions of higher learning and enterprises from around the world to participate in the forum and provide with all the attendants a platform favorable for in-depth exchange of views and sharing of experience.

It is really a joy to have a happy get-together with all friends coming from different parts of the world. As the chairman of the organizing committee of the meeting, I sincerely welcome our friends and experts from around the world who are dedicated to the environmental protection undertakings to gather here in Beijing to seek common development through exchange of views and interaction. It is sincerely expected that you visionary persons may join us so as to enable the forum to bring forth an innovative result and promote international cooperation.

I wish a great success of the 2007 forum.

Mao Rubai

Chairman of the Environment and Resources Protection Committee of National People's Congress P.R.C.

August 22, 2007