Press Release

Annan Visits Eco-Village in Beijing

Beijing, China, 12 October 2004 �United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today visited Liuminying eco-village in suburban Beijing during his five-day official visit to China.

Addressing the villagers and environmental experts gathered there, the Secretary-General said: �You are helping China achieve its own vision of Xiao Kang, the balanced, well-rounded society, and finding ways to balance economic growth and the environment.�

�The good news is that informed development is possible,� he added. �And need not wait for tomorrow�s scientific breakthroughs.�

He said that he looked forward to a walking tour for �a glimpse, perhaps, of a sustainable future.�

"As China is facing big challenges in environmental protection, eco-agriculture could be a good approach to address these environmental challenges in China," said Xie Zhenhua, Minister of State Environmental Protection Administration of China.

�The success of the liuminying Eco-village shows that we are able to change the model of development,� said a villager, adding that he was very happy that the eco village made their life better in an eco-friendly way.

Nominated in 1987 by UNEP as one of the Global 500 Award winners, Liuminying Village was the first eco-village in China where farms, factories, schools, hospitals and biogas plants are run in an eco-friendly manner. The eco-village is a self-sustaining enterprise funded by its own business activities.

Regarded as an effective example of conservation financing at the community level in China, eco-villages provide practical solutions to some of the major economic and ecological challenges facing the country today.

For more information, please contact:

Mr. Xu Guangming, UNDP Communications Officer,

Email: [email protected], Tel: 6532 3731 extension 239.�