The governments of both Guangdong Province and its capital city Guangzhou have announced energy-saving targets, with robust economic growth forecast for this year.

Vice-governor Tong Xing said at an economy work conference which ended on Wednesday that the province aims to reduce energy consumption for turning out one unit of gross domestic product (GDP) by 3 percent this year the same rate as last year.

"Guangdong is economically big, but small in terms of the resources it has. Energy-saving is especially important," Tong said. Guangdong accounts for about one-tenth of the national GDP.

The government is considering setting mandatory energy consumption limits on heavy energy users such as the iron and steel, chemicals, building materials and paper-making industries.

The government projected growth of 15 percent in the areas of industrial added value, retail, and investment for renovation. Industrial added value in Guangdong rose by 18.3 percent to 975.1 billion yuan in the first 11 months last year, with retail up by a record 15.7 percent to 829.9 billion yuan.

The latest release from Guangdong customs indicated the province's exports rose by 26.8 percent to $301.95 billion, accounting for 31.2 percent of the national total. Imports, up by 18.7 percent to $225.26 billion, made up 28.5 percent of the country's total.

With a new round of rapid growth driven by heavy industries, yearly per capita GDP in Guangdong is expected to surpass US$7,000 by 2020, taking the province to the status of countries and regions with high income, the government envisioned.

Meanwhile, Guangzhou aims to bring energy consumption per unit of GDP down by 4 percent this year, the same rate of last year, said Pan Jianguo, director of the municipal development and reform commission.

Economic growth this year was estimated at 12 percent, following a 14.4 percent rise last year, Pan said.

Per capita GDP in Guangzhou last year was estimated to surpass US$10,000 when GDP is divided by the registered population.

(China Daily January 12, 2007)