BEIJING, Feb. 28 (Xinhuanet) -- China has launched a trial calculation of its gross domestic product (GDP) that takes into account of environmental factors, as a way to check environmental deterioration and put its roaring economy on the track of sustainable development.

    The year-long trial will be conducted in ten municipalities and provinces across the country with the joint efforts of the State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA) and the National Bureau of Statistics, SEPA Vice Director Yan Yue said here Monday.

    The trial calculations will be divided into four stages, including investigation, technical preparation, overall calculation and assessment. All stages will be finished by February next year, he said.

    China's economy has run in high gear during the past 25 years, with its average annual GDP growth above nine percent. However, the growth has come often at the cost of environment -- resulting in serious pollution and severe shortages of water, raw materials and other natural resources.

    Alarmed by the trend, the central government began in 2003 to implement the concept of scientific development, seeking coordinated economic, social and environmental development.

    "To set up green GDP calculation system is a major step to implement the concept of scientific development," Pan said.

    He said that the trial calculations, which will set up regionalenvironmental calculation framework, will find ways to assess losses caused by pollution and major environmental incidents and establish a system to calculate the cost of pollution.

    "It is a long and arduous work to set up a green GDP calculation system, but we will firmly push it ahead no matter what difficulties lie ahead," Pan said.

    The ten municipalities and provinces include Beijing, Tianjin, Chongqing, Hebei, Liaoning, Zhejiang, Anhui, Guangdong, Hainan andSichuan. Enditem