The members of the delegation from Zhejiang Province in China were received by Deputy President of the Region Zdeňka Lišková and Councillor Václav Štekl at the regional office of the Pilsen Region on Friday, 19 September, 2014. The topic of the meeting was environmental protection and the experience of the Pilsen Region in this field.
Chinese delegation received by Deputy President of the Region Zdeňka Lišková and Councillor Václav Štekl.
The delegation from sister Zhejiang Province was led by Mr. Xia Ruhong, Director of the Office for Environmental Protection of the province. During the meeting at the regional office, the participants learnt about the Pilsen Region and then they discussed issues of interest to the Chinese delegation. The Director of the Office for Environmental Protection of the province was accompanied by four other directors of similar offices from large cities of Zhejiang Province. “We want to learn about the situation in environmental protection in the Czech Republic and about your experience from the time when European Union standards had been introduced,” said Mr. Xia Ruhong at the beginning adding that their government have invested considerably in environmental protection in the past few years.
Environmental protection was the main topic of the meeting.
Councillor for the Environment and Agriculture Václav Štekl and Head of the Department of Environment Martin Plíhal answered questions concerning changes following the adoption of stricter legislative for environmental protection. The guests were interested in the introduction of stricter standards into practice in both sewage treatment and ecological utilization of waste. Councillor Václav Štekl also mentioned the cooperation of the state and region in the provision of subsidies for the replacement of old boilers with new ecological ones, adding that small local heating systems cause up to 30 % of all polluted air in this republic. The questions about sewage treatment, relevant legislation, building sewage system, water quality monitoring and also pricing for households for these services were answered by Head of the Department of Water Management Marie Hanušová.
The participants of the meeting also mentioned good mutual relations between the Pilsen Region and Zhejiang Province. The Pilsen Region and Zhejiang Province, whose Governor visited the Pilsen Region this May, have signed an agreement on mutual cooperation.