China to boost energy-efficient construction

BEIJING - The Chinese government has established a goal of having energy-efficient buildings account for 30 percent of new construction projects by 2020, according to an official document released Sunday.

The document, which was jointly released by the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, marks the first time for China to set a goal for the development of energy-efficient buildings.

The move underlines China's intent to speed up the development of energy-efficient construction following other documents published earlier this year aimed at the same goal.

According to the document, the government will speed up the sector's development by increasing policy incentives and improving industry standards, as well as promoting technological progress and the development of related industries.

The document also specifies a goal of bringing China's building energy consumption ratio closer to that of developed countries by 2020.