China must adopt a more sustainable model for development "as soon as possible" or risk serious environmental and economic fallout, state media on Monday quoted top officials as saying.
"The overall growth of the Chinese economy is inspiring but one of the worries is that we have paid too dear an environmental and resources price for such growth," the China Daily newspaper quoted national development chief Ma Kai as telling an economic forum in Beijing on Sunday.
China's voracious economy last year accounted for 15 percent of the energy consumed in the world to produce just 5.5 percent of global output, a situation that senior leaders said imperilled long-term economic prospects, the newspaper reported.
"Serious environmental and resources constraints, irrational industrial structure and development gaps between urban and rural areas as well as between regions make it imperative to accelerate change of the growth model in pursuit of sustainable development," Vice-Premier Zeng Peiyan told the two-day forum.
Zeng promised more reforms of pricing mechanisms and tax incentives aimed at encouraging energy conservation. China's economy expanded by a sizzling 10.7 percent last year, fuelled by its massive export machine and investment growth.
For years, the ruling Communist Party pursued a growth-first policy but has recently put addressing the negative effects of that course - horrendous pollution, profligate energy consumption and a widening wealth gap - at the top of its political agenda.
"We are keenly aware that if the country's growth pattern is not changed as soon as possible, though the Chinese economy can maintain rapid growth for a period, it will not sail well and sail far," said Ma, chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission.
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