The great success of the Second Global Environment Facility (GEF) Assembly held in Beijing means a stronger partnership between GEF and China, GEF Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mohamed El-Ashry said in Beijing Friday.
Ashry made the remark at press conference held following the conclusion of the GEF Assembly, which began Oct. 16.
Chinese Minister of Finance Xiang Huaicheng told the press conference China will carry out even closer cooperation with GEF in four areas.
Xiang said that first, the country will try to obtain more funding and technical assistance from GEF in the area of environmental protection. Second, China will expand the areas of cooperation with GEF by lending active support to GEF programs combating land degradation and reducing persistent organic pollutants. Third, the country will step up its own capacity building so as to increase the efficiency of GEF projects. Fourth, the Chinese government will encourage entrepreneurs and non-governmental organizations (NGO) to participate in GEF projects, thus expanding the influence and support base of the projects.
Ashry said China and GEF have a close partnership. China is one of the few developing countries which donates to GEF and also the biggest recipient of GEF grants, Ashry said.
The two sides have jointly conducted over 35 programs with a total GEF grant of nearly US$400 million. These programs helped draw more than US$2 billion to co-finance environmental projects.
The GEF Assembly approved three new projects in China, Ashry said. According to Xie Zhenhua, director of the State Environmental Protection Administration, the assembly adopted all proposals that the Chinese delegation put forward during the meeting, including enhancing the financial strength of GEF, expanding its focal areas and increasing the flexibility and efficiency of GEF projects.
Xiang said the major result of the GEF Assembly is to add land degradation and persistent organic pollutants as GEF focal areas. The assembly also decided to increase the funding for GEF work by US$3 billion for the next four years. Xiang said this will give the organization additional impetus. He said the meeting had identified measures to improve GEF's effectiveness as a cutting-edge, country-driven global organization.
Xiang said the assembly expressed its gratitude to Ashry for the excellent work he has done as CEO and Chairman of the GEF from its inception.
(Xinhua News Agency October 18, 2002)
