BEIJING — Vice-Premier Han Zheng stressed coordinated actions to advance high-quality economic development and high-level environmental protection.

Han, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks on Nov 2 at the opening ceremony of the 2018 annual meeting of the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development (CCICED), of which he was the chairperson.

China’s building of an ecological civilization has entered a critical stage in tackling pollution and improving the ecological environment. It is also the perfect time when China has the condition and capability to address prominent ecological problems, Han said.

The vice-premier said China will stick to green development, vigorously implement the innovation-driven development strategy, further advance supply-side structural reform and coordinate actions to promote high-quality economic development and high-level environmental protection.

Han called for efforts to win the battles against air, water and soil pollution, and intensify punishment of those who damage the ecological environment.

China will actively participate in global ecological environment governance, promote implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and jointly build a green Belt and Road, he said.

Han said the Chinese government will, as always, support the development of the CCICED toward a new international cooperation platform for environment and development that is inclusive, open and mutually beneficial.