China-US to deepen cooperation on maritime environmental protection

China will deepen cooperation with the United States on maritime environmental protection, State Councilor Yang Jiechi said during an annual high-level discussion between the two nations in Beijing on Monday.

Titled "Blue Ocean", the discussion was co-chaired by Yang and United States Secretary of State John Kerry. Yang said the maritime resources and oceanic exploitation plays an important role in China's long-term development, and China will balance the economic growth and protection of the maritime environment.

He said China and the US have already been working together on protecting the ocean environment, including the cooperation between coastal cities from both the countries on reducing waste in the sea waters.

"We are looking for further cooperation on many maritime issues, including cracking down on illegal fishing, curbing pollution and raising public awareness of maritime environment protection," Yang said.

Kerry also stressed the increasing environmental problems in oceans, and said "the cooperation between China and the US is essential for solving those problems". "We will stand together on protecting the maritime environment as we did on the climate change," he added. Wang Hong, director of China's Oceanic Administration, said both countries have been making effects on protecting the oceans.

China is not only launching stricter laws and regulations to save the environment from being polluted and over exploited, but also paying a great attention on bring the knowledge of maritime environment protecting to the public.

In the future, more people will be trained on environmental protecting, and non-government forces will also be included in the progress, he added. The event was a part of the eighth round of US-China Strategic and Economic Dialogues, in the Diaoyutai State guesthouse in Beijing. More than 400 United States delegates, including about 10 ministers, are attending the two-day dialogue. Launched in 2009, it has become an important communication platform between the two countries.