China will take big steps to develop a more environmentally friendly economy in the coming years, said Xie Zhenhua, the minister of State Environmental Protection Administration.

In an exclusive interview with China Daily, Xie said China's economy should make efficient use of resources while protecting the environment to build a well-off society.

A circular economy that recycles materials can take better advantage of resources and energies, minimize waste discharge, and reach a harmonious interaction between society, the economy and the environment, he explained.

Given the current trend of economic development in China, the gross domestic products (GDP) will undoubtedly quadruple by 2020, Xie said.

However, the country's resources and the environment will not last if the conventional development model doesn't change, he said.

The faster an economy grows, the more it harms the environment. In so doing, said the minister, it destroys the potential for future development.

In recent years, China has taken considerable strides towards the development of a circular economy across the country, Xie said. In 2002, the country passed a law promoting clean production methods.

Many provinces and cities have also instituted local regulations supporting clean production.

More than 400 enterprises in more than 20 industries have undertaken clean production evaluation. Some 20 local clean production centers have been established. More than 10,000 people have attended training on clean production.

Meanwhile, based on the idea of a circular economy, a total of 10 ecological industrial regions have been set up in places where large numbers of enterprises are located, Xie said.

In addition, the country is encouraging provinces and cities to develop circular economy, Xie said.

To date seven provinces, including South China's Hainan Province and Northeast China's Jilin and Heilongjiang provinces, and cities like Shaoxing in East China's Zhejiang Province, have began recreating themselves as in "eco-provinces" or "eco-cities."

They have developed regulations to ensure that their plans will not change in the future and that circular economies can be achieved in between 20 to 40 years.

Xie said China is only in its initial stage in developing circular, more environmentally friendly economies.

Research on circular economies must be strengthened and foreign experiences should be learnt from, he said.

Policies, laws and regulations on issues like recycling home appliances and construction materials should be put in place and recycling systems should be set up as soon as possible.

Clean production should continue to be promoted among enterprises, he said, and phase-out of enterprises with outdated techniques and equipment will continue.

Efforts will also be made to raise public awareness of "green products." All levels of government should give those products priority.

(China Daily February 9, 2004)