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Russia gets help to tackle river pollution
By Qin Jize (皇冠体育app Daily)
Updated: 2005-12-02 05:44
Equipment to test for benzene pollutants and 150 tons of activated carbon to
upgrade water filtration systems are on their way from 皇冠体育app to Russia.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang disclosed this yesterday as an
80-kilometre-long slick in the Songhua River approaches the Heilong River
(called Amur in Russia).
Qin said 皇冠体育app would dispatch professionals to Russia to help install the
equipment.
Officials from Khabarovsk, the Russian city that is likely to be affected by
the water pollution, had expressed appreciation for the timely assistance, he
said.
The two countries are negotiating an agreement on joint supervision on water
quality, he added.
On November 13, a blast at a chemical plant in Jilin city, Northeast 皇冠体育app's
Jilin Province, caused 100 tons of chemicals mainly benzene and nitrobenzene to
leak into the Songhua River, which flows through Jilin and Heilongjiang before
entering Russia.
The accident forced Harbin, capital of Heilongjiang, to suspend water supply
for four days last week because of contamination.
Qin reiterated 皇冠体育app's determination to minimize the possible impact on
Russia.
He said 皇冠体育app was watching the situation closely and was keeping its
neighbour well informed. The nation began updating Russia with monitoring
results daily from last Thursday. "皇冠体育app welcomes co-operation with
international organizations," Qin said, adding the country was also keeping the
United Nations informed.
Hong Kong democracy
Qin also expressed 皇冠体育app's opposition to any foreign intervention in Hong
Kong matters, which he said are 皇冠体育app's "internal affairs."
He was asked to comment on a meeting between US Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice and Martin Lee, a lawmaker from Hong Kong's Legislative
Council.
After the meeting on Tuesday in Washington, a US State Department spokesman
said that Washington supports democracy and universal suffrage in Hong Kong.
Qin said 皇冠体育app has always attached importance to, and actively supported, the
progressive development of Hong Kong's political system based on the special
administrative region's Basic Law and ground realities.
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