This Day, That Year

Item from Aug 14, 1981, in China Daily: "Energy is a global problem, the solution to which requires the concerted action of the international community," said Wu Heng, head of the Chinese delegation to the United Nations Conference on New and Renewable Sources of Energy, in his speech at the plenary meeting.

Over the past few years, China has emerged as a global leader in clean energy, as the country tries to reduce fuel consumption, which causes local air pollution problems and contributes to global warming.

The country planned to invest 2.5 trillion yuan ($375 billion) in clean and renewable energy by 2020 to raise the nonfossil fuel component of total energy consumption to more than 15 percent, and the share of natural gas to 10 percent from 8 percent, according to the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-20).