Li Tieying, vice-chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, said that the current energy conservation law no longer meets the country's development needs.

Li said that changing the focus of economic development from energy and resources consumption to energy saving will have a profound effect on relations between people, society and nature.

The NPC Standing Committee enacted the Energy Conservation Law of China in November 1997. It governs the administration of energy, the proper use of energy resources, promotion of energy-saving technology and protection of the environment.

Research into the effectiveness and enforcement of the law is being conducted by the NPC Standing Committee, he said.

The NPC Standing Committee also wants to revise the Energy Conservation Law to secure a strong legal framework for building an energy-saving society, he said.

Li called for the law and policies to encourage economic growth and energy conservation, noting that economic development that features high energy consumption which results in serious pollution and waste is not sustainable.

Li made the remarks at a seminar on energy conservation and legislation.

Li noted that development can not only be concerned with the growth of the GDP, it must also be in harmony with nature.