China says it continues to make strides in protecting the environment. The Ministry of Ecology and Environment today highlighted progress in several key areas. It discussed reforming the delegations of powers, enhancing regulations and providing better services in assessing environmental impact. The agency is streamlining paperwork so that project approval takes less time. But, officials admit needs to be done to step up supervision and enforcement and that environmentally friendly companies still face challenges.

WANG JIAN, DEPUTY DIRECTOR DEPT. OF PLANNING AND FINANCE, MOEE "There are not enough regulations when it comes to environmental protection industries. Stark competitions have strongly influenced their healthy development. Moreover, most environmental protection industries are small and micro firms. They often have difficulties getting financing."