China's State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA) director Xie Zhenhua said Wednesday, December 13, that the annual growth rate of environmental industries will be about 15 percent for the coming five years.

The production value of those industries will exceed 140 billion yuan (US$16.9 billion) in 2005, accounting for 1.4 percent of the yearly gross domestic product (GDP).

When elaborating on China's future target for environmental protection at the China-Germany Environmental Cooperation Conference 2000, which ends Wednesday, Xie said that in 2010 the environmental industrial production value is estimated to exceed 250 billion yuan, taking up two percent of the GDP.

The economic growth, population increase and urban development will stimulate various industries related to environmental protection, Xie said.

Meanwhile, China's entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO), the westward economic development and the country's huge plans to build infrastructure will provide further opportunities for the environmental industries, he said.

(People's Daily 12/14/2000)