China's energy consumption per unit of gross domestic product (GDP) dropped 3.46 percent in the first three quarters this year, the country's top economic planner announced on Friday.

The figure for 2006 and 2007 was 1.79 percent and 3.66 percent respectively.

"It marks new progress the nation has made in energy saving," said Zhang Ping, head of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC).

According to the NDRC, China has put 14.8 billion yuan (US$2.16 billion) of treasury bonds and central budget, as well as 27 billion yuan of governmental fiscal support this year in projects on energy saving and emission cut.

Other efforts included giving subsidies to promote use of energy-efficient light bulbs in the country and setting up trial bases to develop environmentally-friendly circular economy.

More work is yet be done to achieve the national target to reduce energy consumption per unit GDP by 20 percent in five years from 2006 to 2010. It requires a 4 percent annual drop on average.

(Xinhua News Agency December 13, 2008)