Introduction of UNEP

UNEP was established in January 1973. The role of UNEP is to promote international cooperation in caring for the environment and provide policy advice, to be the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda and promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system, to analyze the state of the global environment, and to promote awareness and facilitate effective actions among governments involved in solving important environmental problems. All the Member States of the United Nations and members of the specialized agencies of the United Nations and International Atomic Energy Agency could join UNEP. Over 100 states have participated in activities sponsored by UNEP. UNEP is headquartered in Nairobi, capital of Kenya. Presently, the Executive Director of UNEP is Mr. Klaus Toepfer (Germany), who took office in February 1998. The major publication of UNEP is "UNEP NEWS". The Governing Council was established to carry out the work of UNEP. The Council comprises 58 members elected by the General Assembly for a four-year term on the following basis: 13 seats for Asian States; 16 seats for African States; 6 seats for Eastern European States; 10 seats for Latin American States; and 13 seats for Western European and other States. Half of the members of the Council are reelected annually.

China's Relations with UNEP

China has been a member of the Governing Council of UNEP since 1973. In 1976, China set up its permanent mission to UNEP. The Chinese Ambassador to Kenya is also appointed representative of China to UNEP. Since 1976, China started to make contributions to Environment Fund of UNEP. Since 1982, China has made contributions to the Fund annually.

In 1987, China reached agreement with UNEP whereby the headquarters of the International Desertification Control Research and Training Center was set up in Lanzhou, capital of Gansu Province of China. On 5 June 1993, China celebrated World Environment Day. In October 1997, the "Earth Station", the Courier Project of UNEP, was inaugurated in China. The "Earth Station" was closed on 27 November 2001 because of the work adjustments of UNEP. In 1997, Xialu Town in Shaoxing, Jiangsu Province of China, was awarded "Global 500" by UNEP. Also in 2000, Dalian City in Liaoning Province of China, was awarded "Global 500" by UNEP.

The nineteenth session of the Governing Council of UNEP was held in Nairobi from 27 January to 2 February 1997. The Chinese delegation, headed by Mr. Xie Zhenhua, minister of State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA) of China, attended the meeting. In his speech at the meeting, Mr. Xie elaborated China's views on global environment, introduced actions and achievements made by the Chinese Government in the implementation of sustainable development strategy, reaffirmed the goals and principles adopted by 1992 UN Conference for Environment and Development (UNCED), and appealed to developed countries to meet their commitments made in UNCED to provide financial and technical support to developing countries in environmental protection.

The working group meeting of the nineteenth session of the Governing Council of UNEP resumed in Nairobi on 2 April 1997. The meeting adopted the resolution on the institution of the Governing Council. The resolution decided to establish an additional subsidiary organ, the High-Level Committee of Ministers and Officials, which is composed of 36 State Members. The Chinese delegation actively participated in the consultations at the meeting, and made contributions to the final resolutions.

In August 1998, Mr. Klaus Toepfer, the Executive Director of UNEP paid a visit to China at the invitation of the State Environment Protection Administration of China and met with Mr. Li Lanqing, Vice Premier of China.

The twentieth session of the Governing Council of UNEP was held in Nairobi from 1 to 5 February 1999. Delegation headed by ministers and vice ministers from 47 states participated in the meeting. The meeting considered the state of the environment, coordination and cooperation within and outside the United Nations, including non-governmental organizations, governance of UNEP, follow-up of General Assembly resolutions, the role of UNEP in promotion of collaboration among multilateral environment conventions, the report of the Secretary-General on environment and human settlements, the contribution of UNEP to the seventh session of the Commission on Sustainable Development, as well as important programme and budgetary matters. The meeting adopted 47 resolutions. The Chinese delegation, headed by Mr. Song Ruixiang, vice minister of SEPA of China. Mr. Song addressed the meeting and elaborated China's views on the state of global environment and the reform of UNEP. The Chinese delegation also actively participated in the discussions of every agenda item. ?

In 2000, Mr. Klaus Toepfer, the Executive Director of UNEP was elected Committee member of the second phase of the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development (CCICED), and he paid a visit to China to attend the fourth session of the second phase of CCICED.

The 21st Governing Council session of UNEP (the second meeting of the Global Ministerial Environment Forum) was held in Nairobi from 5 to 9 February 2000. The Chinese delegation, headed by Mr. Wang Yuqing, vice minister of SEPA of China attended the session. Other members of Chinese Delegation were from SEPA, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Embassy of China to Kenya and the Chinese Permanent Mission to UNEP. Because this was the first session of the new millennium of the Governing Council of UNEP, and it would make preparations for the World Summit on Sustainable Development in 2002, the governments of the participating countries attached high importance to the session, which was attended by 80 ministers from various countries. The session considered and adopted 32 resolutions about global environmental governance, trade and environment, desertification, environment law, the enforcement of environment conventions, chemical substance, ocean, forest, environment fund, financing and budgetary matters of UNEP and etc.

The opening ceremony of the UNEP-SEPA Beijing Joint Center for Environment Information Network was held in the Sino-Japan Friendship Cooperation Center for Environment Protection. Mr. Wang Yuqing, vice minister of SEPA of China, and Mr. Shafqat Kakakhel, the deputy executive director of UNEP attended the founding ceremony. Representing the two sides, they signed the Beijing Center Cooperation Agreement. The Beijing Center is a cooperation project by SEPA and UNEP and the cooperation period is temporarily 3 years. The main purpose of founding the Beijing Center is to strengthen the long-period, friendly and full cooperation on environment information by SEPA and UNEP, and to provide environment information service to the public residing home and abroad, the science research sectors, academic sectors, the media and press and the decision-makers.

In November 2001, Mr. Klaus Toepfer was re-elected the Executive Director of UNEP and approved by the 56th General Assembly of the United Nations.