[Special Report] NPC & CPPCC Annual Sessions>>>

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (L, front) meets with members of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) from the economy and agriculture sectors who attend the Fifth Session of the Tenth National Committee of the CPPCC, in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2007. (Xinhua/Liu Jiansheng)

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said here on Sunday that he will faithfully report to deputies to the highest legislature the government's failed efforts last year to reduce energy consumption and pollutant emissions in a major report he is to deliver on Monday.

"We had made great effort but failed to reach the set goal," Wen said when joining a panel discussion of members of the Tenth National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, China's political advisory body.

"We will faithfully report to deputies of the National People's Congress (NPC) what had been done in 2006 to reduce energy consumption and pollutant emissions in the report on the work of the government," the premier said.

Wen is to deliver the government work report at the opening meeting of the Fifth Session of the Tenth NPC, or China's highest legislature, which is scheduled to begin on Monday.

The government will report its work on energy saving and reduction of pollutant emissions every year in the 2006-2010 period when China implements its 11th five-year program for national economic and social development, said Wen.

Along with the yearly report on this target, "we will deliver a final report in the last year of the five-year period," he said.

In his report on the government work delivered at last year's NPC annual session, Wen announced the goal of reducing energy consumption per unit GDP by 20 percent in the five-year period from 2006 to 2010. The goal for 2006 was four percent..

Last week the National Bureau of Statistics reported China's per unit GDP energy consumption fell 1.23 percent in 2006, missing the projected target, but the first time for China to see an annual decline in energy consumption per unit GDP since 2003. 
Despite the failure, Wen said the "serious" five-year target of energy consumption reduction will not be changed, and we will try every means to reach the goal.

"This is our unswerving determination," said the premier, adding, "I'll explain to deputies tomorrow, and I also will appeal to them for their understanding."

On the country's agricultural production, Wen said though grain production had grown for three consecutive years, it is still a hard job for steady growth this year.

"We would possibly see reduction in grain production this year if no efforts are made to deal with challenges brought about by abnormal weather conditions, warm winter and drought which have led to the spindling of winter wheat and increasing plant disease and insect pests."

"If something comes wrong with the economy in the future, there may possibly be in the sector of agriculture, especially grain production," said the premier.

"By no means can we treat the matter lightly," he added.

Editor: Yan