China has established legal systems consisting of nine laws concerning environmental protection and 17 laws on resource conservation and protection, the country's two basic state policies, says a white paper published on Thursday by the Information Office of the State Council.

The white paper, entitled China's Efforts and Achievements in Promoting the Rule of Law, says that the state has also promulgated over 50 administrative regulations, more than 660 local regulations as well as government rules, and over 800 national standards related to environmental and resource protection.

The country has established and improved legal systems by establishing various regulations, such as environmental impact assessment, pollution discharge declaration and registration, pollution discharge fee, control of levels of pollution and pollution discharge permission, it says.

China has also improved legal systems concerning the planning, ownership, permission, paid use and energy conservation assessment of natural resources, according to the paper.

China has acceded or joined over 30 international conventions on environmental and resource protection, it says.

(Xinhua News Agency February 29, 2008)