A historical event

Dear honored guests, ladies and gentlemen,

It is indeed a pleasure to attend the 2005 International Forum for Coastal Cities. This is an important event in China's history of marine environmental protection.

China is a country with long coastlines, large sea areas and rich sea resources. Coastal areas are the most densely populated and also the most economically developed, which has in turn brought great pressure to coastal and marine environments. The protection of the marine environment is a high priority in China and is a major contribution of the Chinese government to the international cause of marine environmental protection. China has taken scientific development as a basis in protecting its coasts and marine environments. At the same time, China has been playing an active role in worldwide marine environmental protection, promoting international cooperation in this regard, and faithfully implementing its assumed obligations.

Only by intensifying environmental protection can we resolve the conflicts between economic growth and the environment, embark on a brand new path of industrialization characterized by low consumption of resources and minimal environmental pollution, and achieve sustainable development. In addition, advocating environmental culture is in line with the orientation and development of our society and culture. By strengthening environmental protection and constantly meeting people's material and cultural needs, people will be able to enjoy a sound ecological environment. Future generations will be able to use natural resources on a sustainable basis; this will help to safeguard the fundamental interests of our people.

The Xiamen International Forum for Coastal Cities is dedicated to establishing an efficient platform for all countries and regions to exchange their management experience and engage in international cooperation; the Forum is committed to raising awareness of marine environmental protection in China and throughout the world. We will make constant efforts to increase the Forum's international coverage and in order to create a permenant and internationally influential forum.

Finally, I wish everybody success at this forum! I would like to thank everybody!

(Extract)


Zhu Guangyao
Deputy Director of the State Environmental Protection Administration of China
祝光耀
国家环保总局副局长

在2005'国际海洋城市论坛上的致辞

尊敬的各位来宾, 女士们、先生们:

很高兴参加这次"2005'国际海洋城市论坛". 这是我国海洋环境保护历史上一次高规格的战略理论探讨.

中国是个海洋大国, 管辖海域辽阔, 海岸带和海洋资源丰富, 中国沿海地区人口最为集中, 经济最为发达, 对海岸带和海洋环境压力较大. 保护海洋环境既是中国政府改善本国海洋环境的一项重要工作, 也是中国政府对国际海洋环境保护事业的重要贡献. 中国在认真树立和落实科学发展, 致力于保护本国沿海和海洋环境的同时, 积极参与国际海洋环境保护事业, 努力推进海洋环境保护的国际合作, 认真履行所承担的国际义务.

只有加强环境保护, 才能解决经济发展与资源环境的矛盾, 才能走出一条资源消耗低、环境污染少的新型工业化道路, 才能实现可持续发展. 同时, 提倡环境文化和生态文明, 符合先进文化的发展方向. 加强环境保护, 在不断满足人们物质和文化需求的基础上, 使人民群众能够享受良好的生态环境, 让子孙后代能够永续利用自然资源, 有利于维护和实现广大人民群众的根本利益.

厦门国际海洋城市论坛, 将致力于为各国各地区进行管理经验交流和国际合作建立一个良好的平台; 致力于提高中国乃至全球海洋环境保护意识; 不断提高论坛的国际性和权威性, 努力办成具有品牌效应的国际性常设论坛.

最后, 预祝本届论坛取得圆满成功!

谢谢大家!

(节选)

Profile of water resources

The shortage of water resources and the pollution of water environments are common problems in global development.

China is one of the world's 13 countries that faces a water-shortage. Statistics show that at the present time, China's annual sewage discharge reaches 365×109 m3 while the urban sewage treatment rate stands at merely 7%. Of the country's 1,200-plus rivers that have been monitored, as many as 850 have been polluted. China's economic losses arising from water pollution amount to tens of billions of RMB per year, which has severely hindered the development of the national economy.

One of our major measures for preventing and treating water related environmental pollution is to discharge sewage only after it is treated and up to environmental standards. However, due to the limitations on socio-economic development, in many cities, sewage is not treated in compliance with environmental standards before discharge; in some cases, sewage is discharged without any treatment whatsoever. Thus searching for alternate or substitute technology that can be used in sewage treatment is a possible way to prevent and treat water pollution.

Although Fujian has abundant hydro-thermal resources, water resources are not evenly distributed and pollution is serious in drainage river basins. In some large- and medium-sized cities, shortage of water resources is a frequent occurrence. Taking the southern part of the Jiulong River basin as an example, point-source pollution arising from aquaculture and mining as well as the use of fertilizers and pesticides has a damaging effect even on Xiamen, Zhangzhou and Quanzhou, areas on the lower reaches which are nicknamed the "golden triangle".

水资源情况简介
Translated by Merry

水资源紧缺和水环境污染是全球发展面临的共同问题.

我国是世界13个贫水国家之一, 水环境状况十分严峻. 有关资料表明, 目前全国污水年排放量已达 365×109 m3, 而城市污水处理率仅 7%. 全国监测的1200多条河流中已有 850条受到污染, 我国每年因水污染造成的经济损失达数百亿元, 很大程度上制约了国民经济发展.

污水处理达标排放是防治水环境污染的重要措施. 可是, 由于社会经济发展状况限制, 许多城市污水并没有做到达标排放, 甚至直接排放. 寻找污水生态处理替代技术成为水污防治的一条重要出路.

尽管福建水热资源较为充足, 但由于水资源分配不均衡, 流域污染较为严重, 一些大中型城市常出现水资源紧缺现象. 以南部九龙江流域为例, 由于养殖业、采矿等点源污染及化肥农药等, 甚至影响到位于下游的素有"金三角"之称的厦、漳、泉地区.

Vocabulary
ecological 生态学的
hinder 阻碍
sewage 污水
hydro-thermal 水热