China's exploitable hydroelectric resources stands at 378 million kilowatts, equivalent to annual power supply of 1.92 trillion kwh, topping the world and making up 16.7 percent of the world's total, a seminar was told earlier this week.

Addressing an international seminar on hydropower, Suo Lisheng,vice-minister of water resources, said the exploitable hydropower is equivalent to 50.7 billion tons of standard coal.

Describing hydropower resources as the country's only renewable energy that could be tapped on a large scale, the official said China's overall generating capacity of hydroelectric power plants reached 92.17 million kilowatts by the end of 2003, about 24 percent of the country's total power generating capacity.

China's hydroelectric output totaled 283 billion kwh last year,15 percent of the country's total power output.

China has been increasing investment in hydroelectric projects as part of its sustainable growth strategy to reduce pollution. Coal remains the country's primary source of energy, causing serious air pollution throughout the country, including acid rain.