Comment on "Imports regain appeal as thermal coal price soars" (China Daily, May 6)

With summer round the corner, it is imperative for the government to deal with the power supply issue. About 70 percent of China's power is generated from coal.

But soaring coal prices are threatening the security of power supply, especially in the southern parts of the country.

The past three years have seen China host many international events - such as the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, Shanghai 2010 World Expo, Guangzhou 2010 Asia Games, and Shenzhen 2011 World University Games.

Of course, such events have and will raise China's standing in the international community and bring some benefits to the country. But they can also lay extra burden on the country in terms of energy supply. They create other problems like waste of resources, too.

Now that the excitement and pride over such events have died off, we should see what we really got from them and what should we give priority to.

The country's huge population is a reality that cannot be ignored. Thus we should prevent waste in any form, especially of energy.

Ge Xiong, via e-mail

Readers' comments are welcome. Please send your e-mail to opinion@chinadaily.com.cn or letters@chinadaily.com.cn or to the individual columnists. China Daily reserves the right to edit all letters. Thank you.

(China Daily 05/12/2011 page9)