President Jiang Zemin has outlined concerns for the environment in a speech calling for better supervision of the country's natural resources.
At a meeting on Sunday attended by National People's Congress Chairman Li Peng and Premier Zhu Rongji, he said social and economic development should be kept in step with the development of population, natural resources and environmental protection.
He urged government departments to take into account new pressures following China's entry to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and to stick to a path of sustainable development.
Mr Jiang emphasised the need to maintain a stable and low birth rate because the size of the population itself posed strains.
China also should establish a new system to improve the management of land and resources development.
'It is necessary for China to take more measures to improve the forecast and prevention of serious natural disasters in certain regions such as the Three Gorges area,' Mr Jiang said.
