A Chinese official on Tuesday called on the international community to respect the country's right to development and the inspiration of the Chinese people to get rid of poverty and lead a decent, well-off life.

China's energy dependence on the outside world is insignificant, and it is quite unnecessary for the world to over-react to the growth of China's energy consumption, said Zhang Guobao, deputy director of the State Development and Reform Commission.

China remains a net coal exporter and its oil imports account for only 6.31 percent of world's total, or 23 percent of that of the United States, and 56 percent of Japan, he said at a press conference of the Information Office of the State Council.

"The United States takes up 29.6 percent of the world total oil trade and Japan, 11.3 percent."

China is expected to produce 180 million tons of oil this year, and the annual output would basically remain the same in the coming two decades, he said.

Some people attributed the oil price hike in 2004 to the growth of oil consumption in emerging countries such as China and India, "but this view does not correctly reflect the situation of the international energy market," said Zhang.

Under-capacity of some oil-producing countries arising from continuous instability and market speculations have been the major factors for the soaring oil price, he said.

China's economic development, including its energy sector, will bring enormous business opportunities for the world. China will stick to the policy of opening up to the outside world and continue to strengthen energy cooperation with other countries, Zhang said.

As for China's energy strategy, he said, the fundamental principle for energy development is to rely on domestic supply, and top priority has been given to promoting energy conservation and improving the efficiency of energy consumption.

Between 1990 and 2004, China's energy consumption for every 10,000 yuan (1,234 US dollars) of gross domestic product was lowered by 45 percent, the official said.

Source: Xinhua