US EPA Administrator Jackson in China

As part of her first official visit to China, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lisa Jackson visited electronic waste processing facilities in Guiyu on October 11 before coming to Guangzhou to keynote an October 12 town hall on U.S.-China environmental cooperation hosted by Sun Yat-sen University. 

During her October 11 visit to Guiyu, Administrator Jackson visited several workshops where end-of-life electronic products such as cell phones and computers are disassembled.  Local environmental officials leading the tour briefed the Administrator on efforts to improve the methods for processing and recycling e-waste in a way that reduces the negative impacts on the environment and human health.  The Administrator’s visit to Guiyu marked an important step forward in U.S.-China bilateral cooperation to tackle the growing e-waste challenge. 

While in Guangzhou, the Administrator was invited to join Director General Li Qing and other officials from the Guangdong Environmental Protection Bureau (EPB) on a boat cruise of the Pearl River.  The boat ride gave the Administrator a chance to observe the rapid growth of the city and learn more about the achievements Guangdong has made in improving air and water quality ahead of the Asia Games.  Following the boat ride, the Administrator participated in a town hall organized by Sun Yat-sen university under the theme: “Building on 30 Years of U.S.-China Cooperation.”  In remarks and in response to questions posed by students, Administrator Jackson emphasized the cooperative role that the United States and China need to play -- as “technical leaders, domestic stewards, and global standard bearers” -- in addressing challenges to our shared environment.