State Environmental Protection Administration
of the People's Republic of China

Welcome to Our Site

SEPA, the administrative department in charge of environmental protection directly under the State Council, has recently been upgraded to the ministerial level. It is primarily responsible for unified supervision and management of nationwide environmental protection according to laws and regulations, the prevention and control of pollution and other public hazards, and the protection and improvement of living environment and the ecological system in order to achieve a sustainable, integrated and sound development of economy and society.

SEPA's major responsibilities are:

To formulate national guidelines, policies, laws and regulations on evironmental protection and provide supervision over their implementation. To work out national plans and programs for environmental protection; to participate in the formulation of medium and long-term programs and annual plans for national economic and social development. To formulate and issue national standards for environmental protection. To oversee environmental protection concerning the atmosphere, water, soil and oceans; to provide supervision and management for the control and prevention of pollution. To formulate and organize the implementation of national policies for environmental protection.

To supervise and administer the country's work in nature conservation and to make programs and plans for the establishment of nature reserves, preparing and presenting proposals to the State Council for approval in establishing new national nature reserves. To organize the implementation of environmental management and enforcement, provide monitoring and perform environmental impact assessments. To manage and supervise environmental monitoring, nationwide. To direct and coordinate nationwide education on environmental protection. To assist in the formulation of China's basic principles on global environmental issues and to participate in negotiations dealing with international conventions.

SEPA consists of the following major departments:

• Administrative Office
• Department of Policies, Laws and Regulations
• Department of Planning and Financial Affairs
• Department of Science, Technology and Standards
• Department of Supervision and Management
• Department of Nature Conservation
• Department of International Cooperation
• Department of Communication and Education
  

Mr. Xie Zhenhua, Minister - SEPA brief biography Mr. Xie joined the production and construction corps in Heilongjiang Province in October, 1968. He began his university education in the Department of Engineering Physics, Qinghua University in September, 1973. After his graduation in January, 1977, he became a teacher in the same university. In 1993, he obtained a Master's Degree of Law from Wuhan University. In May, 1980, he was transferred to the State Construction Commission. He has been engaged in environmental protection work since February, 1982, and was once appointed as the Division Chief of the Radiation Management and that of the Personnel Management in the Environmental Protection Bureau under the Ministry of Urban and Rural Construction and Environmental Protection; Directory General of the Personnel Department and Deputy Administrator for the National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA). In June 1993, he was promoted as the Administrator of NEPA. His title changed to Minister of SEPA in the spring of 1998 when NEPA was raised to the ministerial level and went through a name change. At present he is concurrently holding the post of Vice Chairman of the Environmental Protection Commission under the State Council.

NEPA PRESS RELEASE (5/8/96)

With a view to raise the public's environmental awareness and promote the country's protection of the environment, the National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA) of the People's Republic of China will organize in 1997 a series of international seminars. Government officials concerned, experts, scholars and leaders in the industrial circle of various social organizations will be invited to participate in the seminars, which will hold a wide range of discussions on possible approaches to address environmental problems in the course of development. Internationally eminent persons and representatives in the industrial and financial circles who have concern for and wish to show support to China's environment and development will also be invited to express their views on China's major environmental concerns and put forward constructive recommendations and solutions to problems.

With a major topic of Integrating Economic Development, Social Progress and Environmental Protection, the first round of the China Environment Forum will be held in Beijing in mid-November, 1997.

Under the general theme of environment and development, the seminar will focus its discussion on the following aspects:

• policies and environment
• population and environment
• industrial structure and environment
• energy and environment · trade and environment
• agriculture and environment
• science & technology and environment
• education and environment

Besides, along with introducing China's priority environmental projects in the period of the 9th Five Year Plan, discussion will also be held with regard to the following:

• Economy and Environment in the Three Lakes (Tai Lake, Dianchi, Chao Lake)
• Economy and Environment in the Three Rivers (Huai, Hailuan and Liao Rivers)
• Economy and Environment in the Pearl River Delta
• Economy and Environment in the Yangtze River Economic Zone
• Economy and Environment in the Western Region

Leaders of the Chinese Government, senior officials of foreign governments and international organizations, and internationally eminent persons will be invited to participate in the opening ceremony which will be held at the Great Hall of the People. In addition, as a complement to the seminar, corporate display places will be provided during the meeting for exhibiting products and advanced technologies of environmental enterprises and science and technology institutions.

Xie Zhenhua, Administrator
State Environmental Protection Administration
of the People's Republic of China

State Environmental Protection Administration
of the People's Republic of China

Telephone: (86) 106 615 1789
Facsimile: (86) 106 615 1768
Email: ymzhao@nepa.go.cn