What’s a Little Pollution Between Friends

Published: September 11, 2007, 6:52 am

Tags: environment, russia, east asia, amur, beijing, china, compensation, hu jintao, riverine pollution, russia, songhua, sungari, vladimir putin

The Russian parliament is angry with Beijing for polluting its Far Eastern rivers, according to The Jamestown Foundation. Russian Natural Resources Minister Yuri Trutnev traveled to China August 31-September 4, but apparently failed to convince Chinese officials to conclude a treaty on the protection of trans-border rivers, which would regulate how compensation for damages should be paid. Instead, both sides signed yet another protocol and agreed on planned joint work in 2007-2008. Russia expects the draft agreement to be prepared for signing by the end of 2007, Trutnev told journalists in Beijing on September 3. However, he conceded that the Chinese have yet to confirm their readiness to conclude the agreement. Trutnev said the agreement should include a clause regarding payments for damages, adding that both sides were yet to reach a consensus on this. Trutnev also said the Chinese seemed not to have concrete answers to specific questions, and he urged Chinese officials to

[ Full article ]

Blog link

Rating: 0

Comments