Zhang Guobao, Vice Chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), said on September 10 China is not only a big energy consumer but also a big energy producer. China would address the energy issue mainly by relying on domestic resources.

Zhang said at the China Business Summit 2005 that China supplied 94 percent of its energy demand in 2004 with only 6 percent energy supply dependent on import.

Zhang said, in 2004 China's import of crude oil accounted for only 6 percent to 7 percent of world crude oil trade. Meanwhile China exported 80 million tons of coal. Of the world coke trade China's export accounted for 56 percent. The world should not blame the hike of oil price and energy shortage on China's energy demand growth.

He pointed out that the energy issue is actually a global one and no country, including China, can afford to shut itself off, particularly at the times of the economic globalization. Though China would address the energy issue mainly by relying on domestic resources it doesn't mean China shuts out international cooperation.

He said: "China is only 6 percent dependent on foreign energy, that is, China needs to import 6 percent of energy from overseas. Is it better off or worse off to have the 6 percent? I believe people who are for international trade will say it is better to have than not. Countries of this opinion import a lot of energy themselves. We go overseas and conduct cooperation with foreign countries, these are completely normal business activities."

By People's Daily Online