Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang Wednesday stressed that environmental protection should be a major task in the country's economic reconstructuring efforts.

Li, also head of the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development (CCICED), made the remarks when addressing its 9th annual conference here on Wednesday.

CCICED, established in 1992, is an environment consulting organization composed of officials and experts from home and abroad to provide policy advice to the Chinese government.

"It has become a global trend to develop green economy, recycle economy and low-carbon economy, which bring China both challenges and opportunities," Li said.

Environmental protection was a key link in the country's mission to adjust economic structure and development pattern, Li said.

China has invested more than 200 billion yuan (293 billion U.S. dollars) in energy saving and environmental protection projects as part of its investment plan to boost domestic demand since last year, according to Li.

The country would continue to improve its environment, coordinate economic development with environmental protection, improve environment protection policies and rules and advance relevant technologies, he said.

He said China attached great importance to climate change issues with its own national action plan passed and already under implementation.

"We will push for a fruitful climate conference in Copenhagen and make our due contributions to tackling global climate change, following the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities," he said.

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