At a recent forum on clean energy development, Vice Minister of Commerce Gao Hucheng said China has big potential in clean energy like hydroelectric, nuclear and wind power.

"China has taken a series of measures to promote energy saving, encourage technological progress and strengthen international energy cooperation. Our goal is to pursue sustainable resources."

Energy saving and environmental protection are viewed as part of China's national strategy. According to a plan from the State Council, by 2010, energy consumption per unit of GDP will be 20 percent less than in 2005.

Controls on sulfur dioxide emissions at coal-fired power plants and the phased elimination of outdated technology have been implemented to reach this goal.

Xie Kechang, an academician at the Chinese Academy of Engineering, said China should curb its growing consumption of fossil fuels and make more efforts to develop low-carbon technology.

"We have to raise the efficiency of resources like petroleum, coal and natural gas, alleviate the damage to the ecological environment during its production, consumption and transformation, and gradually reduce the consumption rate of coal."

China is a big energy producer as well as consumer. Shanxi province in northern China is one of the country's biggest coal producers. Its pillar industries, coal mining and power generation, are polluting heavily while consuming a vast amount of natural resources.

Currently, Shanxi is trying to promote fine processing of coal and similar resources, in an effort to change its development model by exploring new economic pillars. Shen Lianbin is the vice governor of the province.

"We aim to leap from a big coal producer to a big new energy producer, and will develop local culture instead of purely relying on its resources. We will try to build Shanxi into the production base of China's new energy."

China has mapped out mid- and long-term development plans for renewable energy and hopes to boost the fuel efficiency of hydro, wind, and solar power.

Thanks to the program, the proportion of renewable energy is expected to cover 10 percent of the country's total energy consumption by 2010, and 15 percent by 2020.

(CRI October 7, 2008)