[The Hwankyung Ilbo] Korea and China discussed ways to jointly establish an early warning system for fine dust at the 23rd Korea-China Joint Committee on Environmental Cooperation held on January 23 in Seoul.

While continuing to push ahead with seven existing cooperation projects, including research on health effects of environmental pollution, environmental technology and industrial cooperation, the two countries agreed to launch three new projects, including exchange of air quality forecast information and technology, the Korea-China joint research project on land pollution management in mining areas, and joint research on environmental policies for sustainable development.

The South Korean government pointed out that the public's anxiety over fine dust is increasing due to the recent occurrence of high-concentration fine dust at a disaster level, and stressed that the two countries should work together to reduce fine dust that affects the quality of life and health of the people.

In response, the Chinese government said that the overall air quality in China has improved by more than 40 percent since 2013 through domestic policies, and the Korean government and the Korean people should cooperate with China with patience to reduce fine dust that needs to be dealt with for a long time.

In order to effectively reduce fine dust, the two governments agreed to establish a separate expert section, launch an air quality forecast information and technology exchange program (fine dust early warning system), expand the scope of Korea-China joint research projects and support the expansion of fine dust cooperation among local governments.

The Ministry of Environment in both countries will actively support the Korea-China Environmental Cooperation Center opened in Beijing in June last year to carry out the projects.

조수빈 리포터  press@hkbs.co.kr

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