China to invest 2 trln yuan in green economy

China will invest two trillion yuan (313 billion U.S. dollars) to promote low-carbon economy in the five years to 2015, the China Daily reported on Sunday, citing a senior official from the country's top economic planner. The investment will help reduce energy consumption per unit of gross domestic product in China by 16 percent at the end of 2015 compared with the level of 2010, the newspaper said, quoting Xie Zhenhua, vice chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission. During the five years to 2010, energy consumption per unit of GDP dropped by 19.1 percent, according to the report. Xie said China will develop circular economy projects, establish 100 demonstration bases for resource comprehensive utilization and launch low-carbon pilot programs in five provinces and eight cities during the next five years.