The forest corps of China's armed police force have put out over
2,800 forest fires since 1999, said Vice-Premier Hui Liangyu, at Tuesday's commemoration of the
60th anniversary of the establishment of the forest corps.
In addition, the corps has joined hands with local police and
government departments to crack down on illegal cutting of trees,
illegal hunting of wild animal, and smuggling of wild plants and
logs, according to Hui, who is also member of the Political Bureau
of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee.
In his speech, Hui spoke highly of the important role of the
forest corps in preventing forest fire control, protecting forest
resources and developing the forest industry over the past
decades.
Over the past 60 years, the corps has developed into a task
force armed with modern equipment, and it has "well accomplished
the sacred mission endowed by the Party and the people," he
noted.
The corps has developed 36 kinds of fire-fighting equipment and
logistic equipment by its own, according to the vice premier.
Also present at the ceremony was Jia Zhibang,
director-in-general of the State Headquarters for Forest Fire
Control, minister of the State Forestry Administration, and first
political commissar of the forest corps.
(Xinhua News Agency January 9, 2008)
