Zhang Guobao, vice minister of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), revealed the plan at an international conference on renewable energy in Beijing, the state news agency reported.

"Renewable energy, including solar, wind power and hydropower, will contribute to better energy security in China," said Zhang.

"It also delivers substantial economic and environmental results, alleviating poverty."

In the coming 15 years China will develop biomass energy, which stems from plant and animal matter, and hopes to replace ten million tons of petroleum with renewable energy annually, Zhang said.

China also plans to expand the heat collection area of solar heaters to 300 million cubic meters (390 million cubic yards) by 2020, replacing the use of about 40 million tons of standard coal each year.

In a speech at the conference, Chinese President Hu Jintao called on the international community to improve cooperation in research and development, transfer of technology and funding to promote the use of renewable resources, Xinhua news agency said.

"China attaches great importance to the utilization of renewable resources, making it one of the important moves to promote economic and social development," Hu said.

Chinese Vice-Premier Zeng Peiyan told the conference China will make better use of its water resources, build wind power plants capable of generating a million kilowatts each and use more solar energy and methane in rural areas.

Zeng called on developed countries and international organizations to honor their commitments made in 2004 in Bonn, Germany, to offer assistance to developing countries for the use of renewable energy, including funding, technology, expertise and management.

China aims to provide electricity to many homes still living without it by developing renewable energies, especially solar energy, Zhang said.

China has spent some 600 million dollars in the past few years on installing solar batteries in 700 small towns far from the country's power grid. It planned to provide the batteries to more towns in coming years.

All rights reserved. � 2004 Agence France-Presse. Sections of the information displayed on this page (dispatches, photographs, logos) are protected by intellectual property rights owned by Agence France-Presse. As a consequence, you may not copy, reproduce, modify, transmit, publish, display or in any way commercially exploit any of the content of this section without the prior written consent of Agence France-Presse.

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