To ensure the government's energy saving policies are fully implemented Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has called for effective measures to be put in place to monitor progress.   

Speaking at a meeting on energy development on Thursday, Wen said saving energy deserved equal attention to that of exploiting it. Energy conservation should be regarded as one of the country's foremost tasks, he said.
  
Great efforts had to be made to develop renewable energy, increase energy supply and adjust demand, added the Premier. .
  
Though the nationwide energy shortage had eased since last year the situation was still tough and shortages would continue for a some time, said the National Energy Development Leading Group  in a circular released after the meeting.
  
The country had to accelerate the adjustment of its economic structure and the transformation of its economic growth pattern, the circular noted.
  
It said industries with high energy costs had to give priority to saving power and energy-saving technologies had to be actively promoted.
  
It was also necessary to upgrade the technological standards of the country's energy industry and to further improve legislation on energy development, the circular said.
  
The meeting also reviewed the draft national medium and long-term plan for the development of renewable energy. 

(Xinhua News Agency April 21, 2006)