China Becoming Serious About Environmental Challenges According to China Expert Stanley Crossick

The Chinese central government is "well aware" of the environmental challenges it faces and, as a consequence, has begun the process of addressing these challenges, according to Stanley Crossick, a China expert with whom I chatted recently in Brussels.

Mr. Crossick is particularly well positioned to comment about China since he has close and personal contacts with many of the country's most influential leaders and thinkers. Mr. Crossick, a well known and highly respected figure in European Union matters, is also a Senior Fellow at the Brussels Institute of Contemporary China Studies. His interest in China dates back some years when he became acquainted with China's then ambassador to the European Union.

In late September, Mr. Crossick was part of a roundtable discussion that took place in Shanghai, China. The discussion focused on China's 60th birthday, which is taking place this fall.

In a paper, which focused on the China-EU strategic relationship, Mr. Crossick called attention to the "conflict between economic development and environmental protection." While the paper, which can be accessed by clicking here, considered a wide range of issues, what it said about environmental issues was of interest to me.

According to Mr. Crossick, the International Strategic Research Centre of the Chinese Communist Party Central Party School, has identified "five major serious social problems the party now faces." One involves the matter of environmental protection and economic development. Mr. Crossick makes the observation that the press in China can play "a valuable role in exposing corruption and non-enforcement of laws, in particular in the consumer/food safety and environmental protection policy areas."

As noted above, Mr. Crossick's paper involves a host of fascinating issues involving the strategic relationship between China and the EU. The paper is well worth the time of anyone interested in China and what the future might hold for this increasingly powerful country.

Moreover, those interested in EU-related matters should be sure to check out Mr. Crossick's blog by clicking here. You will not be disappointed.