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(Shantou, 21 November 2008) China with its unique central position to power global growth could pioneer and lead a green revolution and re-education, participants of an international forum in Shantou have been told.

More than 40 internationally renowned policy makers, academics, think-tank leaders and entrepreneurs across the world took part in the three-day Shantou Dialogues 2008 in Beijing and Shantou earlier this week to exchange their views on how a green economy could be established and sustained.

Participants were of the view that the current financial crisis had forced a new paradigm shift towards achieving new efficiencies and the urgent discovery of new conservation principles.

Delivering the conclusion reached at the dialogues, Chair of the Organising Committee of Shantou Dialogues Anna Wu said China could pioneer and lead a green revolution and re-education with its unique central position to power global growth.

"A new good green education, for everyone from officials and corporate leaders to students, has to be at the heart of the new great global green experiment," said Ms Wu, who is also the Advisor of the Law School of Shantou University.

Building a green economy was not just an item on the sustainability agenda, but had become an effective means to keep competitive in the world, and China was in a good position and right direction to pioneer and lead a green economy, she added.

Professor Amory Lovins, the US Government Advisor on energy, said China had an active role to play in the world's climate.

"China's leadership in rapidly improving energy efficiency can now equip China to lead the world towards climate stability," Professor Lovins said.

Sharing Professor Lovins' views, Manager of Internet Business Solutions Group of CISCO Systems Russel Craig said China and the world had a tremendous need and opportunity to develop a green economy.

"Chinese leadership has recognised this and China already has much knowledge and experience of moving in this direction. The Shantou Dialogues provide a wonderful opportunity to learn about the green economy in China and to contribute to its ongoing development," Mr Craig said.

Also joining the dialogues were Dr Sergio Trindade, 2007 Nobel Peace Prize co-winner and President of SE2T International; Mr Geoff Mulgan, former Head of Policy for former British Prime Minister Tony Blair; Mr Tom Bentley, senior policy advisor to Deputy Premier of Australia; Professor Dadi Zhou, Senior Advisor and Researcher, Energy Research Institute of National Development and Reform Commission; Professor Dajian Zhu, Director and Head, Institute of Governance for Sustainability, Tongji University; Dr Chi Zhang, Chief Economist in Asia, BP and Dr Glenn Frommer, Head of Sustainability Development of Hong Kong's MTR Corporation.

Shantou Dialogues 2008 is the third in an annual series of the Dialogues that has brought together important figures such as the Honourable Kim Campbell, former Prime Minister of Canada, Mr Kevin Wale, President of GM China, and Madam Qian Zhenying, former Minister of Water Resources and Electric Power. The dialogues aim at bringing together think-tank leaders, policy makers, business people and other experts to discuss matters of global concern and to share knowledge and to build networks.

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1. Professor Amory Lovins, US Government Advisor on energy, believes that China's leadership in rapidly improving energy efficiency can equip China to lead the world toward climate stability.

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2. Ms Anna Wu delivers the conclusion reached by participants of Shantou Dialogues 2008 that China could pioneer and lead a green revolution and re-education.

For media enquiries, please contact:

Ms Anna Wu
Advisor, Law School of Shantou University
Tel : (852) 6889-4294

Shantou University

Shantou University was founded by Sir Ka-shing Li in 1981 and has been receiving funding support from the Li Ka Shing Foundation over the years. As the only privately funded public university in China, Shantou University is determined to nurture young and talented people who can meet today's multi-faceted challenges.

Shantou University prides itself in taking on reforms and challenges. It adopts international approaches to educate students and sets new standards in China's higher education sector. The achievements it has accomplished over the years are widely recognised.

With five affiliated hospitals, the Medical College forms an integral part of Shantou University. The Medical College has been actively involved in conducting various academic exchanges and researches with local and overseas institutions. Major projects include research on influenza, oesophageal and nasopharyngeal cancers as well as multi-disciplinary research collaboration.

Shantou University also spearheaded the provision of free hospice care for the terminally ill cancer patients and the Medical Relief for the Poor project in China, promoting the culture of giving whenever and wherever possible.

About the Li Ka Shing Foundation

For almost three decades, The Li Ka Shing Foundation has sought to enhance the impact of its philanthropy through two strategic objectives: to nurture a culture of giving and to foster creativity, constructive engagement, and sustainability. The Li Ka Shing Foundation and other private charitable foundations established by Mr Li have supported grants, sponsorships, and commitments of over HKD10.7 billion.

For further information, please visit: www.lksf.org