China's new national energy leading group, headed by Premier Wen Jiabao, convened its first meeting on Thursday.

Alongside Wen, Vice-premiers Huang Ju and Zeng Peiyan are serving as deputy directors of the group.

At Thursday's meeting Wen outlined the group's responsibilities, saying it is in charge of energy strategy and major policies, the development and conservation of energy resources, energy security and emergency responses as well as energy co-operation with foreign parties.

Energy is an important strategic issue concerning China's economic growth, social stability and national security, said Wen, adding that the central government attaches great importance to the issue.

Group members must fully appreciate the significance and urgency of energy work in China, Wen said.

At the meeting it was agreed that the strategic importance of energy must be emphasized.

In recent years, China has suffered serious energy supply shortages, restricting the country's economic and social progress. The country's industrialization, urbanization and modernization have created an increased demand for energy.

The group decided to make mid- and long term national plans for energy development to adjust the country's energy structure.

Priority is to be given to coal mining and power supply projects. Particular effort will go towards building large coal production bases, enhancing coal mining technologies and improving coal supply routes.

It was agreed that power supply projects, power grid construction and the development of key equipment in the power industry are all areas which need improvement.

In another development, a group of Peking University students concluded on Friday that wind power has a role to play in China's answer to the problem of growing economically while being environmentally friendly.

The students also said government must boost environmental technologies and identified problems China faces in developing renewable energy sources, such as a lack of long-term planning and related policies.

Their presentation was part of the 2nd International Environmental Forum on Leapfrogging Development in China and the 4th China BELL Annual Conference, organized by the State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA).

"Wind power is a clean, safe and renewable energy source, which can improve China's energy structure and meet the huge demand for electricity caused by economic growth," said Ren Yanling, a PhD student in ecology at Peking University.

The students are taking a course in the "commercialization of environmental technologies" at Peking University.

The students also formed study groups on such environmental technologies, as biodiesel, organic food, and wind and solar power.

The course is part of the Business, Environment, Learning and Leadership (BELL) Project, which aims to integrate environmental issues into the curricula of business schools worldwide.

Top names in environmental studies from China and abroad gathered at Friday's forum to brainstorm solutions to the conflict between China's economic development and environmental protection.

One of the main issues is leapfrogging, in which developing nations move to the most modern technology without going through the same intermediate steps that caused pollution in industrialized countries.

"The first Industrial Revolution was based on the belief that the earth's resources are unlimited," said Professor C.S. Kiang, dean of Peking University's College of Environmental Sciences.

"But now we know that the resources are limited; therefore, we need a new pattern of thinking.”

"It is very important that China not repeat the mistakes made by Western countries."

(China Daily June 4, 2005)