Li Rongrong, Minister in charge of the State Economic and Trade Commission (SETC), said Wednesday at the 18th meeting of the Ninth Standing Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), that sustainable economic development in cities faced with depletion of natural resources topped the commission's work priorities this century.

Of the 390 mining townships in China, 20 percent still boast a long-term mining potential, 68 percent have reached their autumn period and 12 percent are ailing.

Some 400 mines in 35 townships have been closed or will close soon. With their closure, the townships will face industrial restructuring, unemployment and environmental problems.

Li said that the State Council was fully aware of the severity of the issues, and had promulgated a series of polices to explore sustainable development measures.

He said that China would learn from foreign countries in dealing with economic restructuring in the cities.

In the next few years, 180 state-owned coal mines, over 100 non-ferrous metal mines and some other mining industries will be depleted.

(Xinhua News Agency June 27, 2002)