President Chen Attends the Sixth Asian-Pacific Non-governmental Organization Conference on the Environment
Taipei, Nov. 2 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian said Saturday in Kaohsiung City that Taiwan will firmly anchor itself within the world community by shouldering its share of international responsibility.
Chen told the sixth Asian-Pacific Non-governmental Organization Conference on the Environment that the Republic of China never forgets its duty to the world and will work together with international groups which share its concern for sustained global development.
Noting that any development which spoils the environment will not last long, Chen said Asian-Pacific states should bear this in mind while pursuing their economic development.
However, Chen said, environmental protection measures worked out by the government will hardly be effective without the participation of the general public--that is where non-governmental groups can help.
The conference on the environment, called by the Peacetime Foundation of Taiwan, began Friday. It has brought together 100-odd environmental specialists from 16 countries. The participants will discuss water management, ocean and coastal management, urban environment, wetlands and biodiversity, public and private partnerships in environmental management among other issues at the four-day conference.