"We need to embark on a new type of industrialization mode to promote development in an environmentally friendly manner," said China's Vice Premier Zeng Peiyan Sunday. (File Photo)   Sept. 10 - China will step up efforts to create profitable, environmentally clean technologies as it tries to meet its goal of doubling economic output per person by 2010, China's Vice Premier Zeng Peiyan said Sunday.

 

"We need to embark on a new type of industrialization mode to promote development in an environmentally friendly manner," said Zeng in a speech to a gathering of business leaders. "We will accelerate scientific and technical progress and promote technological development."

 

Zeng's comments echoed a government development plan issued this year that calls for China to reduce its reliance on polluting, resource-intensive industries and foreign technology by developing skills in fields ranging from nuclear power to software.

 

Zeng didn't announce any new initiatives, but affirmed pledges to encourage private research by improving protection for patents and copyrights.

 

Zeng was speaking at the China Business Summit, an event organized by the Geneva-based World Economic Forum.

 

The newly issued five-year development plan calls for China to cut energy consumption per unit of economic output by 20 percent and to reduce emissions of sulfur dioxide by 10 percent before 2010.

 

China still faces "big and increasing contradictions between economic development and environmental protection," Zeng said.

 

"We have to enhance our ability at originality," said Chen Deming, vice chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission, China's top planning agency. "We need to do more fundamental research."