Chinese Vice Premier Zeng Peiyan said on Thursday the development of a recycling economy is the key link between saving resources and environmental protection.

Zeng said in a video conference on recycling economy development held by the State Council that innovation should be the driving force in developing a recycling economy and only by recycling natural resources could the energy bottleneck be relieved and pollutant emissions reduced.

The State Council put forward targets for China's recycling economy during the 11th Five-Year period from 2006 to 2010.

By 2010, China's per unit GDP energy consumption will be reduced by 20 percent, per unit industrial output water consumption be cut by 30 percent, the utilization ratio of mineral resources be increased by five percentage points, use of industrial solid waste be up 60 percent and emissions of major pollutants be down by 10 percent.

Solid clay bricks will be banned in urban areas by 2010 and all coal-fired generators should be equipped with sulfur-removal systems before 2015.

The conference considered six aspects of developing a recycling economy: enhancement of energy and other resources saving; clean production; the utilization ratio of resources; development of actual recycling; pilot projects; and innovation capability.

(Xinhua News Agency December 22, 2006)