KUNMING -- A technological training center on new energy and renewable energy was opened Wednesday in Southwest China as the country seeks to train more human resources professionals for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

The center in Kunming, capital of Yunnan province, was launched after Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao proposed last November to set up 10 training centers targeting personnel from ASEAN members.

The center will host two to three free training sessions a year covering solar energy, biomass energy, wind energy and small hydropower, said Long Jiang, director of the provincial bureau of science and technology.

The center will recruit trainees from civil service workers, staff at universities and research institutes, as well as company employees in the ASEAN members, Long said.

Jin Xiaoming, director of the international cooperation department under the Ministry of Science and Technology, said the center will help promote regional cooperation on science and technology as well as regional technological transfer.