Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang has urged to guarantee energy supplies, continuously raise energy efficiency, speed up the development of modern energy industry and upgrade the energy structure to ensure the country's sound economic growth.

Li, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remark at a meeting held on Wednesday, stressing that to build a stable, safe, clean and economical energy supply system was essential to economic health during the global financial crisis.

Li said China had suffered a slowdown both in energy demand and the energy companies' profits.

He urged governments at all levels to enhance the infrastructure construction of energy supply to help increase the country's domestic needs and provide further preparations for economic development.

Priority should be given in promoting China's rural and urban electricity power network, projects to conserve energy and reduce emissions, projects to transmit electricity power from the west to the east and large-scale nuclear power plants, etc.

China should take opportunities to adjust its energy patterns by actively developing solar energy, wind and water power as well as other renewable energy resources to protect the environment, Li said.

The official also called for efforts to make use of energy resources both inside and outside China's market.

(Xinhua News Agency February 6, 2009)