The Chinese government has issued clean production evaluation systems for six industries as part of a nationwide effort to curb air and water pollution.

The six industries addressed are: cement, fermentation, soda ash, machinery, sulphuric acid and leather.

The six sets of standards became effective on July 20 on a trial basis in a bid to improve the efficiencies of resources, and minimize the emission of pollutants, according to the National Development and Reform Commission. The commission published the systems on its official website.

The commission indicated that the standards would be revised to keep pace with economic and technological development.

The standards contain dozens of indices. Air, water and solid pollutants emissions and the efficiencies of energy and resources utilizationare are all included in the list.

China is committed to improving its energy efficiency. The country's goal is to cut energy consumption per unit of GDP by 20 percent, along with a 10 percent cut in major pollutants, between 2006 and 2010.

Official figures showed that China's per unit of GDP energy consumption fell 1.23 percent in 2006, well short of the projected target of 4 percent. On July 16 Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said that China must improve energy efficiency and upgrade its capacity to deal with climate changes. "Cutting energy consumption and pollutant emissions and dealing with climate change are urgent, critically important tasks," Wen said.

(Xinhua News Agency July 23, 2007)