Chinese President Jiang Zemin met with Henry Paulson, Chairman of the Asia Pacific Council of the Nature Conservancy of the United States on the afternoon of February 7 in Beijing.

  Paulson is also chairman and chief executive officer of Goldman Sachs.

  During his meeting with Paulson and his entourage in Zhongnanhai, the headquarters of the Chinese Government, President Jiang expressed his appreciation of the Nature Conservancy's contribution to environmental protection in western China over the years.

  He said the Chinese Government places great importance on the protection of the natural environment and ecological resources and has given priority to sustainable development.

  Noting that China put environment protection high on its agenda while developing its western areas, Jiang hopes that the Nature Conservancy will make new contributions to promoting exchanges and cooperation between China and the U.S. in environmental protection.

  Paulson briefed Jiang about the progress of the natural preservation and development program that the Nature Conservancy carried out with the local government in Yunnan province in southwest China.

  He praised the Chinese leadership for what it has done in terms of environmental protection. He also expressed willingness to work closely with the Yunnan provincial government and other Chinese authorities to preserve natural resources, promote economic development and raise standard of living in the area.

  Paulson visited China at the invitation of the State Environmental Protection Administration.