Climate change poses a huge challenge to China, the biggest producer in the coal-chemical industry, so it's the time for the country to change the resource-consuming economic-growth pattern, said the mayor of Jincheng City, which is at the heart of China's coal mining industry.

Located in the central region of Qingshui in west China's Shanxi Province, the city possesses high-grade anthracite coal, which accounts for 1/4 of the country's total reserves. Its coal reserves are estimated at 8.08 billion tons.

At the 1st World Emerging Industries Summit on Sep. 3, Jincheng Mayor Wang Maoshe said the coal industry must upgrade. He said in the next few years, the local government will emphasize improving and optimizing the energy structure to protect the global environment.

"New technologies, like carbon capture and environmentally friendly coal mines will help us to realize our aims," Wang said.

By the end of this year, the city's total coal mine methane (CMM) surface exaction will reach 3 billion cubic meters, and 1.6 billion cubic meters for CMM underground drainage.

According to the local authority, a batch of the world's top 500 enterprises, such as Foxconn, Henderson, Houde, Ogasawara, Walmart, have settled there.

By comprehensively utilizing resources, expediting technical innovation, extending the industry chain and optimizing industry structure, Wang said the city will shift its focus from traditional fields to high-tech fields.

"We've built up a provincial-level development zone with a total area of 9.3 square kilometers," Wang said. "Now, industry parks, such as International Casting Industry, Economy Industry and Foxconn (Jincheng) Science and Technology Industry parks are operating."

To promote the city's industry upgrade, the local government published a high-level talent-attraction plan.

Fan Lixia, director of Standing Member of Municipal Party Committee, said the city listed 12 key areas from which to attract professionals and experts, such as the coal, machinofacture, and neo-type coal chemical industries, as well as biological pharmaceuticals.

"For overseas pioneering talents of science and technology with significant achievements to their credit, a living allowance of 1 million yuan per person is provided in a lump sum," Fan said.

"We want to change," she said. "The city has an excellent living and working environment, and we invite all talents to come."

(China.org.cn September 6, 2010)