As booming China faces impending resource shortages, the government started a publicity campaign in Beijing Sunday calling on the whole nation to conserve resources.

Vice Premier Zeng Peiyan said at an opening meeting that all levels of government, all institutions, all enterprises, and all people should work jointly to conserve resources. Every member of society should voluntarily practice frugality, he said.

"The government should step up legislation to promote resources conservation, and encourage the development of related technologies," he said.

Zeng said that due to China's huge population and limited resources, Chinese society should base itself on conservation.

He called on all industries to practice economy, raise the efficiency of resources utilization, and make technical renovations to conserve resources.

He said it is every citizen's duty to promote resources conservation. Every home, every government institution, every business, and every city should become energy- and resource-efficient.

(Xinhua News Agency August 15, 2005)