At the crucial period of studying and implementing President Xi Jinping’s thought on ecological civilization to win the battle against pollution, and at the time of the 40th anniversary of China’s reform and opening-up, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) of the P.R.C. organized the 1st International Conference on Environmental Science and Technology on November 16, 2018, where academic exchanges on hot topics about ecological and environmental protection and environmental research in China has been carried out to provide suggestions on the battle against pollution. The Conference was organized by CRAES and supported by Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences.MEP, South China Institute of Environmental Sciences.MEP, and Chinese Society For Environmental Sciences.

Li Ganjie, secretary of the Leading Party Members’ Group and minister of MEE, expressed in his congratulatory letter that the Chinese Government always pays high attention to ecological and environmental protection. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, ecological civilization construction has become important work of national governance, and green development has been an integral part of the new development concept. Under the guidance of President Xi Jinping’s thought on ecological civilization, ecological and environmental protection has undergone historical, transitional, and overall changes from thoughts to practice. At present, when China is committed to promoting the modernization of environmental governance systems and capabilities, ecology and environmental science and technology play a vital role in the battle against pollution. Minister Li Ganjie hoped that international experts and scholars on ecology and environmental science and technology will further enhance innovation cooperation and actively provide suggestions on China’s development in such fields, and jointly promote new modernization with harmonious development between human and nature, contributing wisdom and power to building a clean and beautiful China and world.

Zhuang Guotai, member of the Leading Party Members’ Group and vice minister of MEE, met with members of ISAC and delivered a speech in the meeting. He pointed out that under the guidance of President Xi Jinping’s thought on ecological civilization, China is continuously promoting the battle against pollution and has made positive progress. At present, China’s is still undertaking hard tasks of eco-environmental protection, and it is necessary to strengthen international cooperation and exchanges, introduce and learn from foreign advanced concepts, experience and technologies, and provide strong scientific and technological support for eco-environmental protection and ecological civilization construction. It is hoped that Chinese and foreign experts will enhance exchanges and cooperation, share knowledge, experience and wisdom, and make this Conference a new platform for cooperation and exchange.

Berit Lein, policy director of Norwegian Environment Agency, Hao Jiming, academician of Chinese Academy of Engineering, Chiho Watanabe, president of the National Institute for Environmental Studies of Japan, Zheng Chunmiao, professor of the Southern University of Science and Technology of China, Chang Yoon Seok, president of the Korean National Institute of Environmental Research, Bettina, head of Federal Agency for Nature Conservation of Germany and other experts from China and other countries delivered key reports on hot topics of environmental science and technology. Parallel sessions themed “Control and Prevention on Pollution of Water”, “Blue Skies Defense Battle”, “Control and Prevention on Pollution of Soil” and “Environment and Health” were held during the meeting, where experts exchanged and discussed deeply on the key work of China’s ecological and environmental protection.

Leaders and representatives from relevant departments and subordinate units of MEE and more than 300 Chinese experts, scholars and related scientific and technological workers joined the meeting.