Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao called for building an energy-saving society and developing a recycling economy at a national video and telephone working meeting held Thursday.

The strain on energy and other resources will increase significantly as China's industrialization, urbanization and modernization press forward. Therefore, the efficient utilization of resources is crucial, said Premier Wen at the meeting, presided over by Vice Premier Zeng Peiyan.

The key tasks for the Communist Party of China (CPC) in 2005 and 2006 in building an energy-saving society includes the conservation of energy, water, raw materials, land resources, and utilization of mineral resources, industrial waste and recyclable resources.

Wen said government care and attention should be increased to carry out those tasks.

Scientific research and the application of new techniques and products should be promoted, said the premier.

Meanwhile, he called for deepening reforms of policies regulating energy-saving industries and formulating and amending the relevant laws and regulations.

The Chinese premier urged government departments at all levels to set examples in energy and other resources conservation.

(Xinhua News Agency July 1, 2005)