The term "cycling economy" has become a buzzword at the "two sessions" in 2005. Many people, from NPC, CPPCC deputies to journalists are all talking it over. According to Zhu Tan, a CPPCC deputy and professor with the Nankai University, carrying out recycling economy is not a mere economic problem; it even needs a social development pattern that adapts to it.

The resource shortage problem, as a result of rapid social and economic growth in China in recent years, has got the Chinese people to know the new term "cycling economy". The term made debut in the government work report in 2003, which read, "support development of environmental protection industry and cycling economy". Short as it is, it makes Zhu Tan, a scholar who has devoted half of his life in research of environmental science very excited.

"We need to create social environment and supporting system for carrying out cycling economy," said Zhu at the ongoing "two sessions".

The cycling economy requires an ecological chain to be built in fields of production, consumption and circulation. A circular chain that links production, circulation and consumption will help realize the goal of small input, high efficiency and less pollution, Zhu said.

To realize the goal, laws and regulations that promote cycling economy ought to be made so that producers, consumers, government organs and media shoulder social responsibilities; investment should be increased to strengthen researches of key techniques in cycling economy; collection and comprehensive utilization of wastes should be done by fostering a industry.

China is drafting the "11th five-year plan" and long-term plan for 2020 in 2005. To accomplish the task, China should make the sustainable development concept, especially the cycling economy concept as its objective; appraisal of the plans' impact on environment must be made when making decision.

By People's Daily Online