国内英语新闻:Chinese premier stresses scientific innovation, sustainable growth

When answering a question on emission reduction, Wen said that China's energy consumption per GDP was down 15.6 percent during the first four years of the country's eleventh Five-year Plan, while the target of the plan is a 20 percent reduction in the five year period.

However, achieving such a goal is not an easy task, according to Wen. China has set a target on the reducing high energy-consuming enterprises for the second half of this year, including small cement and steel projects.

Wen said he would report the result of China's efforts on energy conservation and emission reduction to the National People's Congress, the top legislature, in March next year, and thus to the whole world.

INVESTMENT ENVIRONMENT

Wen also dismissed claims that China's investment environment has worsened.

"A rise in foreign direct investment in China has shown that foreign companies have not lost confidence in the country," he said.

"All foreign enterprises registered in China enjoy national treatment. China will give equal treatment to foreign-funded enterprises and Chinese enterprises alike on policies of indigenous innovation, government procurement and intellectual property protection," he said.

Wen also pledged to improve related regulations and laws and actively participate in negotiations on the Agreement on Government Procurement of the World Trade Organization.

ENERGY CONSUMPTION

Wen said the rise in China's energy demand is related to China's development stage.

"It took developed countries 200 to 300 years to realize industrialization while we just took dozens of years to finish the process. Secondly, our per capita energy consumption is only one fifth of that of America and a third of those of OECD countries," he said.

Wen said the country should attach great importance to energy saving and environment protection and it should become its unswerving policy.

"Industrial restructuring is the key to tackling China's rising energy demand. Only by developing energy-efficient, indigenous innovated and high value added products could our companies and economy achieve sustainable development," Wen said.