BEIJING - Chinese Vice-Premier Zhang Gaoli on Wednesday stressed the important role of environmental protection in China's development.

"China will promote the ideal that protecting and improving the environment is protecting and improving productivity and green, recycable and low-carbon development," Zhang said in a meeting with foreign members of China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development(CCIED).

The CCIED started its three-day annual general meeting in Beijing on Wednesday, with the theme of "environment and society for green development."

As the biggest developing country in the world, China has placed great importance on the relation between environment and development, setting  resource conservation and environmental protection as basic state policy, Zhang said.

Zhang underscored the important role of systems in protecting ecological environment.

He said the recent plenum of the Communist Party of China has mapped out how to deepen reform in ecological matters.

China will build a complete ecological society and improve the property system and management system of natural resources and assets, among other measures, Zhang said.

Zhang reviewed the positive role of CCIED in promoting China's economic and social development and environmental protection since its inception in 1992.

As CCIED's new chair, Zhang said he would like to work with other council members to contribute to the sustainable development of the human race.

Peter Kent, former environment minister of Canada, said China's efforts and accomplishments in building an ecological society are impressive.

As vice executive chair of CCIED, Peter said he will continue to offer advice and perspective on China's environmental protection.