On this occasion of opening of the Beijing International Renewable Energy Conference 2005, on behalf of the government and the people of China, I would like to extend my sincere congratulations! I also express my warmest welcome to all the participants!

It is a global wish and common responsibility to take right action to cope with challenges posed by environment and energy as well as to achieve sustainable development through strengthening international co-operation. Along with the global economic growth, energy shortage and environmental pollution have become an increasingly big problem. If it is not solved in a good and efficient manner, not only will human society not achieve the goal of sustainable development, but it will also make a serious impact on the living environment and quality of human society. In this regard, renewable energy resource is rich, clean and sustainable. Therefore, it is an indispensable measure to deal with the increasingly serious issues of energy and environment as well as ensure sustainable development of human society by accelerating the use and development of renewable energy.

China attaches great importance to the utilization and development of renewable energy and considers it as one of the most important instruments to promote socio-economic development. China's Renewable Energy Law will take effect on January 1, 2006. We will continue to pursue economic and social development under the concept of scientific development, accelerate economic restructuring and the transformation of the mode of economic growth, take further steps to enhance innovative ability, develop recycling economy, protect the environment, expand renewable energy development, promote the co-ordinated development of economy with population, resources and environment, and build a resources-conservation and environmental friendly society.

It is very important to seek international co-operation in order to fasten the development and use of renewable energy. International community should enhance co-operation in areas such as research & development (R&D), technology transfer, and financial assistance, etc. which will increase the contribution of renewable energy to the socio-economic development of man, and benefit people all around the world. I sincerely hope that the conference can play an important role in promoting the development and use of renewable energy worldwide as well as strengthening international co-operation in this field.

Finally, I wish the conference a great success!

President of the People's Republic of China

Hu Jintao

November 6, 2005

(China Daily 11/10/2005 page12)