On the afternoon of Nov. 14, 2013, Premier Li Keqiang of the State Council met with foreign representatives attending China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development (CCICED) Annual General Meeting 2013 at the Great Hall of the People, and held discussions with them.

Li Keqiang welcomed the foreign guests coming to China to attend the meeting. Li appreciated their care and support for China's environment and development, and for their actively making proposals and efforts to play a constructive role.

CCICED Executive Vice Chairperson and Member of the Canadian Parliament Peter Kent introduced CCICED's proposals for China's environment protection. UNEP Executive Director and Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations Achim Steiner, Commissioner Kristalina Georgieva of the European Commission, and WWF International Director-General James Leape, shared opinions and suggestions, respectively, on promoting ecological civilization construction, environmental protection, as well as global green development.

Li Keqiang said that at the moment, China has reached a critical stage where it can achieve sustainable and healthy economic development only through transformation and upgrade. The purpose of our development is for the sake of the people. The public are raising higher and higher requirements for environmental quality, and environmental protection has been highlighted as an important livelihood issue. The Chinese government attaches great importance to coordinating and balancing the relationship between development and environment, and will better protect the environment while continuing to promote economic development.

Li Keqiang pointed out that the Chinese government explicitly proposes to streamline administration and delegate power to the lower levels, create fair competition environment for enterprises, carry out pollution prevention and regulatory measures, openly treat pollution, and rely more on market forces to strengthen the governance of pollution.

Li Keqiang stressed that energy conservation and environmental protection industry has a huge market in China, and can become a pillar industry to promote the economic development. We encourage private and social capital to enter into this field, and are also willing to promote more energy conservation and environmental protection products, as well as relevant infrastructure construction to the world, opening them to all countries.

Li Keqiang said that mankind only has one earth as homeland, and we would like to strengthen international cooperation with all countries, not only exchanging ideas, but also strengthening cooperation in technology and industry to jointly promote the ecological civilization construction. We hope everyone continues to put forward valuable proposals for the cause of China's environment and development.

Peter Kent said that China has attached great importance to the ecological civilization construction in recent years, and is committed to strengthening environmental protection and green development. China has achieved positive results in pollution control. They would like to expand cooperation with China, and make positive contributions to the green development of China and the world.