China's crackdown on imports of plastic "foreign waste" should be a signal to rich countries to step up recycling and cut down on non-essential products such as plastic straws, said ErikSolheim, executive director of the United Nations Environment Programme. China will continue to pursue sustainable and green development in line with the goal of building a "beautiful China," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said at a regular press conference today. The country will unswervingly push forward the reform of the solid waste import management system and crack down on the smuggling of "foreign garbage." Q: According to UK media reports, ErikSolheim, Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme, said recently that China's crackdown on the import of plastic "foreign waste" should be a signal to rich countries to step up recycling and reduce non-essential products such as plastic straws. What is China's comment on that?

A: Solid waste treatment and disposal is a common environmental problem facing all countries in the world. Restricting and banning the import of solid waste, which is also known as banning the entry of "foreign garbage", is an important measure for China to promote ecological civilization, and is conducive to protecting ecological environment security and people's health.

In line with the goal of building a "beautiful China", China will continue to actively implement the concept of sustainable and green development, unswervingly push forward the reform of the solid waste import management system, and crack down on the smuggling of "foreign garbage". We also call on the international community to strengthen exchanges and cooperation in solid waste disposal and combating illegal trade in waste.

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