Greener investment

Reconstruction work after the earthquake in southwest Sichuan province will entail faster investment growth later this year.

Such an investment boom appears not so desirable in a year when the government has been trying hard to curb inflation and prevent economic overheating. But when it has to happen, policymakers should make sure that investment expands in line with higher energy efficiency and environmental standards.

Latest statistics show that China's urban fixed-asset investment rose 25.7 percent year-on-year to 2.841 trillion yuan ($406 billion) in the first four months of this year. The growth figure represents a slight acceleration, of 0.2 percentage point, from the same period of last year.