Three Chinese companies have joined The Climate Group (TCG), an environmental watchdog and advocator of a low-carbon economy, the London-based non-governmental organization (NGO) announced in Beijing on Friday.

China Mobile, Broad Air Conditioning Holdings and Suntech Power were the first Chinese mainland partners to join the movement to cooperate on environmental issues.

"China is a vital ally in the fight against global warming," said ex-British prime minister Tony Blair in a letter of congratulations.

Blair, TCG initiator, expressed his hope the Chinese members would mobilize more global business leaders to cut emissions and realize the economic benefits from advancing the global low carbon economy.

"We need leadership from everywhere (in the world) to solve environmental problems," TCG head Steve Howard said in Beijing.

The body would ensure its membership worldwide and would keep their leadership in promoting the low carbon economy in their own business fields, as well as cooperating with like-minded enterprises to initiate a series of programs on environmental protection, according to Wu Changhua, the group's Greater China director.

"The involvement of the Chinese companies not only helps attract their domestic counterparts to follow in their steps and set up a sustainable business model, but also helps the international community better understand China's positive role in solving climate change issues on a global level," she said.

All of the new members have played an active role in the country's campaign for energy efficiency and emissions reductions launched in 2006. Telecom giant China Mobile won a government award for environment protection last year for its leadership in recycling used cell phones and their components.

Broad Air Conditioning Holdings is known for its development of energy-saving technologies in air conditioners. "Every Broad air-conditioner mainframe could help cut carbon dioxide emissions by as much as 2,000 tons each year," a company report said.

Based in the coastal Jiangsu Province, Suntech Power gained a reputation as the country's leading developer of solar energy. It was listed as the world's third largest solar battery producer.

Speaking at the ceremony to welcome the new members, Wu Jianmin, president of Paris-based Bureau International des Expositions, an intergovernmental regulatory body of world exhibitions, said a low carbon economy with the development of renewable resources would become China's new growth point.

Founded in 2004, TCG focuses on climate-change solutions. It has established membership with more than 50 world governments and business groups, including New York State, HSBC and Virgin Airlines, among others.

(Xinhua News Agency October 24, 2008)