Business

Wuxi sets out strategy for low-carbon growth

By Li Woke (China Daily)
Updated: 2011-01-12 07:58

Visitors talk with exhibitors at the 2nd China (Wuxi) Renewable Energy Conference Solar Power Exhibition in September. Wuxi plans to adopt green technology to meet energy targets. Huang Xiaobing / For China Daily

BEIJING - Wuxi, a city in Jiangsu province, plans to develop green and low-carbon industries in accordance with the 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-2015), a city government official said on Tuesday.

"Starting from this year, Wuxi is on the road of industrial adjustment for green technology and continuous development," said Ni Bin, assistant mayor of Wuxi.

The city has mapped out eight key industries, including new energy, environmental protection, IT and new materials, Ni said.

Wuxi's green industry strategy is part of the nation's 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-2015), which aims to support accelerated service-sector growth to make economic growth more environmentally friendly.

Last month, at a seminar on drawing up the 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-2015), Vice-Premier Li Keqiang said that "greater efforts should be made to strengthen the role of innovation in driving growth, quicken the upgrading of traditional industries, develop strategic emerging industries and push forward the service sector to accelerate the transformation of China's economic growth pattern".

At present, the service sector accounts for less than 45 percent of the Chinese economy, while accounting for more than 70 percent in the United States.

Last week, China released its official manufacturing PMI figure for December, which was 53.9, down from 55.2 in November, the first decline in five months.

Analysts attributed the weakening of the country's manufacturing activity in December to the government's tightening monetary policy and the closure of polluting and highly energy-intensive factories to meet the nation's energy efficiency targets.

China will adopt a 17.3 percent energy intensity reduction target in the 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-2015) and a 16.6 percent energy intensity reduction target in the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-2020).

Meanwhile, China's largest oil and gas producer, China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), said on its website on Wednesday that the country's reliance on crude oil imports will reach 60 percent in the next five years.

In 2006, China's oil imports reached 45 percent of total oil consumption and grew at 3 percent annually thereafter. In 2010, imported crude oil accounted for 52 percent of the country's total oil consumption.

"Green technology and energy efficiency are necessity for Wuxi to meet energy targets," Ni said.