China is putting more emphasis on economic measures to save
energy and cut pollutants discharge, including gradual reform of
the pricing system of the resources products to reflect their true
scarcity and impact on the environment, a high-ranking official
said in Beijing on Monday.
"The Chinese government has introduced lots of financial and tax
incentives to promote the use of energy-saving technologies and
products," Ma Kai, minister in charge of the National Development
and Reform Commission, the top economic planning agency, told a
press conference.
The country will continue to use comprehensive measures that
compass economic and legal measures and necessary administrative
orders to conserve energy.
In this regard, China has enacted laws on environmental
protection and renewable energy.
As a major means, energy efficiency and pollutant discharge
reduction will be key factors in the performance assessments of
local officials at various levels.
Energy efficiency and pollutant discharge reduction should be
set as indices for assessing economic and social development in all
localities and the performance of government and company leaders,
the State Council said in a circular issued on Sunday.
They will receive a negative performance assessment if they fail
to reach goals for energy efficiency and pollutant discharge
reduction regardless of achievements in other fields, according to
the document.
This means the performance of officials will not be judged
merely by the growth of gross domestic product in all localities,
Ma told reporters.
(Xinhua News Agency June 4, 2007)
