Development and environmental policies have accompanied China's economic growth progress, and played significant roles in the process. The economic field in China has experienced its own growth and transition process. Over more than three decades of economic reform and transition, Chinese economists have learnt from the West, from similar countries undergoing economic reform and transition and, more importantly, from the lessons and experiences in China's unique reform process, and have grown to be an increasingly strong force behind policy change and national development. The following are two examples of policy interactions between economists and policy makers that made an identifiable difference.