(China Daily)
Updated: 2007-12-26 07:32

How the resource-producing cities will be able to realize sustainable development is of vital importance to the overall progress of this country.

This is because the continuous exploration of resources such as coal, forests, and other mineral resources without a reasonable mechanism to make up for the losses these places have suffered in ecological environment and unbalanced economic structure has almost rendered them impotent for rehabilitation and further development.

The central government has obviously realized the seriousness of the issue. This explains why the State Council released a document on Monday on the promotion of sustainable development in these cities.

The document has demonstrated an earnest attitude by conceding that the lack of reasonable compensation and a rehabilitation mechanism in the past has resulted in the accumulation of many problems in these cities.

As a result, the central government will help these cities or regions to deal with their problems such as unbalanced industrial mix, high rate of unemployment, seriously-damaged ecological environment and pressure to keep social stability.

While helping these cities or regions where the resources are almost exhausted by rehabilitating the damaged environment, establishing social security and facilitating infrastructure construction, it is even more important to establish a compensation mechanism in other regions where resources production is still a major industry.

In this regard, the document reiterates the principle that whoever explores the resources must be responsible for environmental protection; whoever benefits from the use of resources must compensate for the losses the exploration of such resources has caused; whoever pollutes must treat the pollution itself; and whoever causes damage to the environment must rehabilitate it.

A sound circle is expected to take shape by establishing a compensation mechanism on this principle. Only in this way can we expect to avoid the unreasonable mode of development at the expense of the environment and ecology.

This is easier said than done. How local governments carry out the policies of the central government and how well they put to use the money earmarked from the central finance is key to the success of this strategy.

(China Daily 12/26/2007 page10)