The western media have neglected the positive impact China has on the environment outside the country. This is according to a report entitled "Review and Perspective of the Environment and Development of China" that has been released by a high-profile think tank.
CRI's Qiu Wei has more.
 The report has been presented by a special task force, part of the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development. The panel consists of leading experts on the global environment and related sectors from both home and abroad.
Shen Guofang is the vice-president of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, as well as one of the writers of the report.
"We admit in this report that our development does have an impact on the environment, and sometimes it can be negative. Therefore, we've been taking measures to reduce the negative effects. But meanwhile, in world trade, we've been committed to our WTO obligations. We are not violating any international laws. The accusation that China poses a threat against the world environment is exaggerated and unreasonable."
Shen Guofang says since China's trade pattern is dominated by goods, the result is usually that products are exported while pollutants are left. The country is affected more by the negative impact on the environment, while the positive environmental benefits it brings to many other countries are almost ignored.
The report says that China sees much resource consumption and pollution, as imports of wastes used to transform raw materials into products, such as electronic equipment and steel scrap, have been on the rise in recent years.
Shen Guofang notes that this is because many industries are still dependent on processing.
"Energy consumption and pollution are inevitable during processing. That means we import the raw material, produce, send the clean products abroad and keep the waste and pollution ourselves. Having said that, China is reducing pollutants for its trading partners, which has a positive affect on the world environment."
Shen Guofang says it is also unfair to turn a blind eye to China's huge efforts in reforestation, water purification and emissions reductions, while stressing only its negative impacts on the world.
As forest cover across the world shrinks dramatically, China has been seeing its forests expand at a rate of 7 million hectares per year. It is the fastest growth of any country worldwide. China's current percentage of forest cover is over 18%, with the number expected to hit 20% by 2010.
The report also suggests that when trade between China and its partners impacts the environment, the responsibility should be borne by all parties, including manufacturers, traders and consumers in the product chain.
QW, CRI News
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Director: Liu Chi