Two major events, the Environment and Development Summit, and the China International Ecological Environment Technology and Equipment Expo, will be held in Beijing on Oct 21 to Oct 23.

The development summit is a high-level forum that focuses on research and discussions of frontier environmental theories.

Organized by the All-China Environment Federation, an environmental NGO supervised by the Environmental Protection Ministry, the summit aims to provide theoretical consulting services on relevant political decisions.

"The rapid economic development is a miracle in the history of human development. But as the country rises, the economy is faced with the challenge to shift from low-end development to high-end development," said Zeng Xiaodong, vice-chairman and secretary-general of the federation.

"What we must pursue is a sustainable way, a path that leads to an ecological civilization," said Zeng.

The summit's theme is "to enhance the construction of an ecological civilization, environmental protection should come first".

The other event, the expo, will cover an area of about 35,000 square meters.

It will focus on issues including, pollution prevention and control, water treatment, solid waste disposal and recycling.

Jia Huai, deputy head of the economic information department of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, said overseas exhibitors will occupy more than 30 percent of the total exhibition area.