Ma Kai, minister in charge of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC). (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery >>>

    LONDON, June 4 (Xinhua) -- China has worked hard to adjust its economic structure to improve energy saving and cut emissions, Ma Kai, minister in charge of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), said in an article published by The Financial Times Monday.

    The minister said from 1991 to 2005, with national energy consumption rising each year by 5.6 percent, China sustained an annual economic growth rate of 10 percent and lowered its energy consumption per unit of gross domestic product by 47 percent, saving 800 million tons of coal and cutting 1.8 billion tons of carbon dioxide emissions.

    According to the minister, the central government had by April 2007 approved 383 projects in wind, hydro and biofuel power generation, and the use of methane gas from coal beds, which in total will cut emissions by 1 billion tons.

    From 1980 to 2005, another 5.1 billion tons were absorbed through extensive reforestation and better forest management, according to the minister.

    China's strict family planning policies which will continue to be carried out also contributed significantly to easing the world's population expansion and curbing greenhouse gas emissions, Ma said.

    Without the policy, China's population would have increased by 138 million since 1979, which would have in turn resulted in an extra 330 million tons of emissions, he said.

    "China is committed to addressing climate change in the context of sustainable development, but it should be on the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities," Ma said.

    "China stands for active participation in international forums and multilateral cooperation. We have shouldered our obligation and responsibilities in the past, pushed forward the 'post-Kyoto protocol' negotiations, and made strenuous efforts in all negotiations," the minister said.

    China also hopes that the developed countries can take the lead in reducing their greenhouse gas emissions and provide financial and technological support for developing countries to better meet their needs for technology transfer and cooperation, particularly in climate change observation and monitoring, reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and adaptation to climate change, according to Ma.

    "We believe that as long as different countries can cooperate with each other on the issue of climate change, their collective efforts can make a greater contribution to the sustainable development of the global economy and humankind," the minister said.

    China will act vigorously in developing cleaner energy sources such as wind and solar power, geothermal, tidal, biomass and other renewable technologies, and promote nuclear power with a view to increasing the ratio of renewable energy in the supply of primary energy to 10 percent by 2010, he added.

    China will also address its water problems in the light of global warming with the government properly developing water resources and improving distribution, including irrigation and conservation, and strengthening the capacity of the water system to resist climate change, he said.

    China will implement key projects in forestation, including returning farmland to forests and grasslands and preserving natural forests, with the aim of increasing forestry coverage to 20 percent of the country by 2010, he added.

    On other fronts, China will encourage and support scientific and technological innovation in curbing and adapting to climate change and do more in researching and developing key technologies.

    "China is committed to improving its policies in industry, taxation, credit and investment and to using pricing to make the most of environmentally friendly policies. Such measures will also be backed by a solid legal foundation, with the adoption of the energy conservation law and the law on renewable energy as soon as possible," the minister said.

    Climate change is an environmental issue, with an impact on the entire global community, but it is also a development issue, which was caused by human development and must be resolved by development, he said.