An agreement was signed here Tuesday to protect the environment during the construction of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region.

The agreement, signed by the general headquarters of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway and 18 construction companies, requires thatconstruction companies intensify their protection efforts with regard to nature reserves, surface vegetation, rare and wild animals, frozen earth and wetland along the railway line.

We must give priority to environmental protection in Tibet this year, said Lu Chunfang, chief official in charge of the railway construction. All sectors of railway construction should attach greater importance to preserve the environment here.

Lu said that construction workers and supervisors must undertake special training on environmental protection before starting their work.

Zhang Yongze, deputy director of the Tibet Regional Bureau of Environmental Protection, said the bureau will strengthen its monitoring of the ecological environment along the railway line asthe agreement is implemented.

Zhang warned that individuals and companies causing damage to the environment will be severely punished according to relevant laws and regulations.

From: Xinhua.net