A staff member checks the operation of an automatic water testing system at Anhui CAS Intelligent Environmental Testing Technology Service Co., Ltd. in the China Environment Valley in Hefei, east China's Anhui Province, Jan. 17, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

China is accelerating the establishment of a modern ecological and environmental monitoring system, a government official said on Wednesday.

The establishment of a comprehensive aerial, terrestrial and maritime monitoring network is the most fundamental and essential task in building a modern monitoring system, said Jiang Huohua, head of the ecological and environmental monitoring department of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment.

Artificial intelligence (AI) technologies and satellite remote-sensing will play increasingly significant roles in ecological and environmental monitoring, he said, citing the in-field application of DeepSeek as an example.

The ministry has rolled out policies to boost the development of environmental protection robots and remote-operation equipment for environmental monitoring, amid a variety of efforts to boost the application of new technology, he said.

Remote-sensing methods, including methods that use satellites and drones, are set to play increasingly significant roles in environmental protection. The ministry will enhance the country's satellite remote-sensing monitoring capabilities, leveraging the unique advantages of remote-sensing technology and exploring synergistic applications with large AI models, he said.