Mr. Ma Songde (Vice Minister of MOST) thanked the GEF, the UNDP, the related departments of the Chinese Government, and the Municipal Governments of Shanghai and Beijing for their support and congratulated the participants on the successful launching of the project. He stressed that the project is of great significance and influence to the sustainable development of the urban transportation, on the energy security and environmental protection of the whole world in the future.

　　The Chinese Government has always attached great importance to the issues of sustainable development strategy; supported the development and application of clean energy and the new generation of Clean Vehicles. The Municipal Governments of Beijing and Shanghai have promulgated a number of mandatory emission regulations and standards in succession. In order to reduce air pollution in cities and realize the sustainable development of the transportation sector, Ministry of Science and Technology, the State Environmental Protection Administration and other related governmental agencies launched the "Clean Vehicle Action" program in 1999. The aim of the program is to promote the development and application of low-emission oil-fueled vehicles, gas-powered vehicles and other alternative technologies and fuels for vehicles. This program has been carried out in over 10 Chinese cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin and Chongqing, and remarkable achievements have been reached.

　　He pledged to work together with the Municipal Governments of Beijing and Shanghai and all related departments of the State Council to give all necessary support in every aspect. With the support of the GEF and UNDP and society circles, Demonstration Project for Fuel cell Bus Commercialization in China will be a completely successful project.

　　The sustainable development is a global challenge to human wisdom and civilization. It should gain joint support from UNDP, government and non-governmental organizations, enterprises and research institutions. Chinese government admires that GEF and UNDP play an important role in promoting environment protection, encouraging technology transfer and aiding developing countries. We also wish that international institutions and enterprises associated with Fuel Cell, Fuel Cell Bus and hydrogen technology actively involved in Chinese FCB project. While thoroughly respecting knowledge and protecting the intellectual property rights, we wish to conduct active and productive cooperation with related research institutions and enterprises in other countries.

　　Ms. Kerstin Leitner (UNDP Beijing Resident Representative) stated that the joint efforts of the MOST, CICETE and UNDP have successfully developed this project. She noted that the Chinese Government has made tremendous efforts for strengthening air pollution control and that from 1997 to 2001, UNDP supported 5 Chinese cities, including Beijing, to tackle the problem and remarkable results have been achieved. However, much more needs to be done, and with about half of the population in developing countries forecast to live in cities by 2005, developing clean and affordable urban mass transportation systems is essential. This is why Sao Paulo, Mexico City, Cairo, Beijing and Shanghai have been selected as pilot cities under the broader GEF program for fuel cell buses.

　　She noted that the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing provides an obvious opportunity for fuel cell buses and the municipal government is making conscientious efforts to mount the best ever Green Olympics. Similarly, Shanghai, as the host of the World Expo 2010, is making every effort to modernize its transportation sector. She hoped that CNG buses, city light-rail trains and the underground will run side by side with the fuel cell buses at the time.

　　Mr. Fan Boyuan (Vice Mayor of Beijing) titled his speech "Fuel cell Buses, the Hope of Green Olympics and Sustainable Development of Beijing." He noted that of all clean vehicles, fuel cell vehicles, hold the prospect of zero emissions and are widely believed to represent the future of the auto industry. Hence, the city leaders are convinced that the demonstration project will boost Beijing's effort to develop and commercialize fuel cell vehicles and build up affiliated infrastructure.

　　He stated that the Beijing 2008 Olympics will indeed be a green Olympics as promised. In 2008, they hope to have 1,000 electric buses running on the streets of Beijing, including fuel cell buses. So, the development and promotion of hydrogen power and fuel cell technology enjoys a bright future, and he hoped for more international exchange and cooperation in this regard.

　　Mr. Zhang Qibiao (Vice Chairman of Shanghai Science and Technology Commission) praised the tremendous efforts of MOST, the UNDP and the GEF in deciding to undertake this Fuel cell Bus Demonstration Project in China. He noted that the Shanghai municipality attaches great importance to the development and promotion of Clean-Energy Vehicles, and that with the support of MOST, was selected as one of pilot cities in the national Clean Vehicle Action program. They are now actively supporting research of FCBs and relative technologies under the Fuel cell Car Project of the Electric Vehicles Project.

　　He noted the significance of this demonstration project for the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai, and the industrialization of FCVs and related technologies. He concluded that with the great support of MOST, UNDP and GEF, the demonstration of FCB in Shanghai will achieve successes, and that the knowledge and experience gained through this project will provide the favorable condition to ensure the national energy resource security, atmospheric environment protection and automobile industry leapfrog realization in Shanghai and in China.

　　Mr. Xu Jing, the National Project Director, introduced Mr. Chen Jiachang as the Deputy National Project Director to present an Introduction of the Project and Work Plan. This presentation consisted of three topics: Background of FCB development, China FCB Project: Objectives & Tasks, and China FCB project: Work Plan.

　　In the Background section, he discussed energy consumption and demand in China along side the challenges of envrionmental protection that the country faces. He discussed the advantages that fuel cell vehicles can bring, and then reviewed China's FCV R&D activities. He mentioned recent FCB demonstration vehicles in China, he discussed FCB Demonstration projects in the US, Japan and Europe, and he showed pictures of fuel cell buses from many of the leading manufacturers.

　　Regarding the objective & tasks of the China FCB Project, he discussed the project focus, inputs, long-term goal, objectives and management plan. He discussed the project approach and work plan at the major activity level of detail. He expressed his hope that many international suppliers would come to China for this project because it will be easy for them to find good partners.