China's forestry products industry witnessed a fast growth during the tenth five-year-plan period (2001-2005), the deputy director of the State Forestry Administration, Lei Jiafu, said Tuesday.

 

As at 2005, the forestry products industry recorded a production value of 726.9 billion yuan (about US$91 billion), an increase of over 100 percent over five years ago, he said at the opening ceremony of the 11th International Exhibition on Woodworking Machinery and Furniture Manufacturing Equipment.

 

Turnout in the forestry and woodworking machinery industry in 2005 exceeded 15 billion yuan (about US$1.9 billion), an increase of 88 percent over 2001.

 

In the same period, China's production of wood flooring rose by 182 percent to 300 million cubic meters, he said.

 

China also turned out 52.15 million cubic meters of wood-based panels and 1.7 billion pieces of furniture in 2005, both ranking first in the world, said Lei.

 

The deputy director said China's forestry industry will focus on the conservation of the natural environment and the development of the forestry products industry during the 11th five-year-period (2006-2010).

 

The reform of the forest ownership system and the development and application of new science and technology shall be the two priorities, he said.

 

The exhibition at the China International exhibition Center was organized by the China National Forestry Machinery Association and is hosting about 500 businesses from home and abroad.

 

(Xinhua News Agency March 8, 2006)