A central economic work conference attended by China's top economic policy-makers Thursday has decided to strive for "tangible fruits" in China's energy conservation efforts next year.

Energy conservation will reduce pollution and improve the ecology, said the Central Economic Work Conference in a statement following the annual meeting which sets major economic strategy and policy for the coming year.

China must upgrade technology in sectors that are high energy consumers next year, according to the strategy adopted at the three-day meeting, which concluded here Thursday.

Energy consumption in steel making and non-ferrous and electric power generation along with the building materials industry must be lowered next year, said the meeting's statement.

China will speed the development of recycling use materials with the launch of pilot projects in key industries and key cities.

Statistics showed that about 1.4 billion US dollars was invested in recycling projects in 2005.

While promoting energy conservation the meeting called for the development of new and renewable sources of energy.

China must also address environmental issues including water and air pollution in order to safeguard the people's health, said the statement from the conference.

Source: Xinhua