Top Chinese political advisor Yu Zhengsheng makes a speech at the second annual conference of the World Cultural Forum (Taihu, China) in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, May 18, 2013. [Photo/Xinhua]

HANGZHOU - Top Chinese political advisor Yu Zhengsheng on Saturday called for international cooperation in building ecological civilization.

Yu, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), made the remarks at the second annual conference of the World Cultural Forum (Taihu, China), which began in Hangzhou on Saturday.

He extended a welcome to about 500 attendees, including Mozambican President Armando Guebuza, Governor-General of Antigua and Barbuda Louise Lake-Tack and Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras.

The world is increasingly confronted with challenges relating to climate change, energy and resources security and biological diversity, while green development and recyclable economy have become an important trend of global development, Yu said.

What we will leave to future generations has become a common topic for all countries, thus it is of great significance for this conference to focus on increasing international cooperation and building ecological civilization, he urged.

Yu made a four-point proposal, calling for an ecological civilization concept that respects and protects nature.

The political advisor appealed for stronger environmental protection and ecological building, urging the whole of society to join in with this task.

Yu also called for a worldwide partnership in building ecological civilization.

Yu highlighted the Chinese government's commitment to conserving resources and protecting the environment, and acknowledged ecological problems like water and air pollution.

Saying the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China has incorporated the development of ecological civilization into the overall plan for socialism, Yu said China will promote green, recyclable and low-carbon development, create a good working and living environment for the people and contribute to global ecological security.

He told his audience that China's building of ecological civilization is open, inclusive and beneficial to other countries, stressing the government's commitment to international ecological and environmental protection.

"China will seriously implement international environmental convention and assume due international obligations in accordance with the principles of common but differentiated responsibilities, fairness and a capability-based mechanism," Yu vowed.

He added that China will work with the international community to build an ecologically good homeland.

Officially established in 2008 as a non-governmental organization based in China, the World Cultural Forum (Taihu, China) is committed to creating an open, multilateral and inclusive platform for international cultural exchanges.