ABSTRACT
From the time when the People's Republic came into being up to the early 1970s, there had been some environmental management in China but on a very small, scattered scale. In other words, environmental management still did not have its proper position on the agenda as a major issue in the country's development program. Only after the country made preparations for, and took part in, the Stockholm Conference on Human Environment in 1972, did environmental management begin to be viewed as vital to protecting the ecosystem, safeguarding the socialist construction, and guaranteeing the health of the population. China drew lessons from the capitalist countries which had to fight the environmental pollution produced during the course of economic development. We came to realize that while undertaking economic construction, it is necessary to pay great attention tv environmental protection. It is necessary to correctly handle the relations between development and environment so that the economy will develop in harmony with the environment. In 1973, China held its first national conference on environmental protection. During this conference, some successful experiences in environmentaryrotection were related, and some serious environmental problems were uncovered. An initial program for protecting and improving the environment was charted. This conference has played an important role in the development of environmental protection in China.
