The Third Meeting of The Third Phase CCICED was held during 29-31 October, 2004. The theme of this annual Meeting is Agriculture and Sustainable Rural Development. All together there were 38 Chinese and International Members, 14 Co-chairs of the Task Forces, 10 special guests and 30 observers attending the Meeting.
Premier Wen Jiabao met the Chinese and International Members in the afternoon of 29 October. He listened to the briefing by the International Executive Vice Chairman Paul Thibault and the International Vice Chairman Mans Lonnroth and presented an important address. In his address, Premier Wen elaborated the progress, existing problems and future expectations of sustainable agriculture and rural development and rural reform in China. He spoke highly of the important role of CCICED during the past 13 years since its establishment and hoped that CCICED would carry out in-depth study on future development mode of China, especially on such aspects as increasing both the quality and efficiency of economic growth, establishing a conservation minded society, facilitating circular economy, promoting overall social and economic sustainable development, improving the living conditions and realizing social equity and justice. He also hoped that CCICED could present policy recommendations based on the findings.
Premier Wen answered the questions on green GDP growth, the impact of China's rapid economic growth on global environment, future development of China's automobile industry, regional resources accounting and the possibility of further increase of farmland, which were put forward by four International Members including Sir. Tickell.
In the afternoon of October 31, Chinese Vice-Premier Zeng Peiyan chaired the closing ceremony of the Meeting and delivered an important speech. In his speech, Vice-Premier Zeng depicted the situation of Chinese economic development and environmental protection, clearly stated that the concept of scientific development should be applied in environmental protection work. He put forward specific requirements for environmental protection work on aspects: 1) making overall plans for environmental protection activities of both urban and rural areas; 2) promoting regional environmental protection in a coordinated way; 3) placing stringent top cap control of pollutant emission; 4) further strengthening international environmental cooperation.
Vice-Premier Zeng Peiyan fully approved the fruitful achievements obtained by CCICED and wished that CCICED could further give full play to its role, pay close attention to such important study projects as the formulation of "The 11th Five-Year Plan", the implementation of human-oriented scientific approach, the enhancement of eco-environment conservation and construction with earnest efforts, the promotion of the harmonious co-existence of man and nature, the realization of sustainable development of economy and society. CCICED should properly design the research topic and arrange well the research force, promote relevant research work and duly report study results in a bid to put forth some proactive and feasible policy recommendations to the Chinese Government.
The Meeting examined and approved the change of some Council Members and one Deputy Secretary General of CCICED and approved to add Mr. Yun Xiaosu, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Land and Resources, Mr. Xu Zuyuan, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Transportation, Mr. Chen Tonghai, General Manager of Sinopec Group as new Chinese Council Members. The meeting also approved to cease the membership of two Chinese Council Members, Mr. Shou Jiahua, former Deputy Minister of Ministry of Land and Resouces and Mr. Hong Shanxiang, former Deputy Minister of Ministry of Transportation due to work adjustment. The meeting approved the resignation of International Council Member Mr. Willoch due to physical problems and approved that Mr. Yang Chaofei, Director-General of Department of Policies, Laws and Regulations of SEPA, succeeded Mr. Peng Jinxin as Vice General Secretary.
The Meeting carried out in-depth and fruitful discussions under the theme of "Agriculture and Rural Sustainable Development". The participating Council Members and experts spoke highly of the "Human-oriented" policy initiated by the Chinese Government as well as their attention to the issue of "agriculture, rural residents and rural development". According to their view, a new framework needs to be set up to cope with the complicated situation during rapid social and economic development. In addition, a series of issues such as eco-system services, environmental impacts, resource shortage, bio-diversity conservation should be taken into account when dealing with the balance between rural environment and development. The major opinions and recommendations they have put forward were as follows: (1) constructing a new framework for rural development; (2) establishing a new framework for grain security; (3) implementing a new form of water environment management strategy; (4) realizing the modernization of the management of protected areas; (5) applying the concept of sustainable development in international trade; (6) paying great attention to the adverse impacts of climate change on agriculture and rural development in China and duly formulating strategy and counter-measures for climate change; (7) caring about the serious nitrogen pollution problem. Nitrogen pollutants released from fertilizers to the water body and the air are reducing farmland productivity in China, and it would result in great economic losses and environmental damage to China.
During the Meeting, Mr. Smil, an expert on agriculture and environment and a professor of University of Manitoba, Canada as well as Mr. Zhang Baowen, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Agriculture, made keynote speeches respectively to introduce global development trend of agriculture and environment and the great importance China had attached to agriculture and rural problems and the progress of building up a well-off society in an all-round way in China. The two keynote speeches disseminated a lot of new information to the audience. Dr. Len Good, CEO of Global Environmental Facility, Mr. Hu Zhenpeng, Vice Governor of Jiangxi Province, Mr. Khalid Malik, UNDP Resident Representative, UN Resident Coordinator and Mr. Kiyotaka Akasaka, Deputy Secretary General of OECD made special guest speeches at the Meeting. They respectively introduced the cooperation between GEF and China and between GEF and CCICED as well as fields and prospects for future cooperation; the progress and envision of promoting agriculture and rural sustainable development within Jiangxi Province; the cooperation between UN system and China as well as future cooperation direction and trend; the attention OECD had given to the work of CCICED and its expectation and plan to carrying out cooperation with CCICED. The speeches made by these special guests offered more information to the participating Council Members and Experts and laid a foundation for further discussion.
The Meeting listened to CCICED work report presented by Mr. Zhu Guangyao, Secretary General of CCICED, the report of Task Force Co-chairs' Coordination Meeting made by Mr. Hanson, International Lead Expert and the Issues Paper made by Mr. Wang Yi on behalf of the Lead Expert. The Meeting also listened to and discussed the reports of the five Task Forces including TF on Agriculture and Sustainable Rural Development, TF on Non-Point Agricultural Pollution Prevention, TF on Integrated River Basin Management, TF on Protected Area, TF on WTO and the Environment. Furthermore, an in-depth and warm discussion was then held on the policy recommendations proposed by the five Task Forces.
The Meeting discussed and adopted the Policy Recommendations to the Chinese Government by the 3rd Meeting of the 3rd Phase of CCICED.
Mr. Xie Zhenhua, Executive Vice-Chairperson made a summary on the Meeting on behalf of the Bureau and made the announcement that the theme of the Annual General Meeting of 2005 was "Sustainable Urbanization". The Bureau agreed that the theme of the Annual General Meeting of 2006 would be "Scientific Development Approach and the Target of Building Up a Well-off Society". The Bureau also suggested that the 4th Meeting of the 3rd Phase of CCICED be held in Beijing from 18 to 20 November, 2005. The Bureau respected Mr. Sun Honglie's decision and approved his resignation of the post of Chinese Lead Expert. As a follow up, the Bureau approved the designation of Mr. Shen Guofang, Vice President of Chinese Academy of Engineering, as the Chinese Lead Expert. Mr. Xie Zhenhua, Executive Vice-Chairperson requested the Secretariat of CCICED to take charge of the work of sorting and summarizing the major opinions and suggestions raised in the discussion of the Meeting to formulate a more comprehensive and accurate written recommendation to be submitted to the State Council and to be distributed to relevant departments and local governments.
From 23 to 26 of October, some International Council Members and international Task Force Co-Chairs visited some parts of Gansu Province to investigate local economic, social and environmental development situation. During their visit, they had discussions with the leaders of the departments of environmental protection, forestry, the agricultural and livestock of Gansu Province to get to know the progress and remaining problems in the fields of environmental protection and sustainable development. The efforts the provincial government has made and the achievements it had gained in environmental protection and sustainable development as well as the hospitality of the local people impressed them deeply.
In the morning of November 1st, the Lead Expert and Task Force Co-Chairs' Coordination Meeting was held. Three major issues were discussed in the Meeting: (1) the work of each Task Force; (2) strengthening the communications between each Task Force and the Lead Expert as well as the Secretariat; (3) fund of the Task Forces. The meeting requested the Task Forces to present reports in the 2005 meeting to make proper arrangements to ensure sufficient input of effort, time and capital in a bid to guarantee the submission of high-quality work report and policy recommendations on time.
In the afternoon of the same day, the Ministry of Commerce of P.R.C. and CIDA of Canada co-hosted the CCICED Project Coordination Mechanism Meeting. All the participants fully affirmed the success of the 3rd Meeting of the 3rd Phase of CCICED and reviewed the work plan of 2004 as well as the issues mentioned in the coordination meeting memorandum of 2003. They wished to learn more about the working progress of CCICED and to participate more in the preparation work for the AGM of CCICED. The Meeting decided to strengthen the communication between CCICED Secretariat and fund-donating countries/organizations by holding regular (once every two months) information exchange meetings between the two sides and by direct communications between the fund-donating country/organization and the Secretariat.