China has contributed approximately 140 million tons to the world's steel output increase since 2001, Wu Xichun, chairman of the China Iron and Steel Association (CISA), said at a machine building industry forum on Friday.

He said China's economy has entered a new growth period mainly powered by its heavy industry. During the past four years, the country's steel output growth has accounted for 70 percent of the world's increased output of 205.9 million tons.

Between 2001 and 2003, a record high 78 percent or 93.84 million tons of the world's was produced in China. Meanwhile, about 26.51 million tons was imported during the same period.

As China's steel output and consumption goes on expanding, industrial experts such as Wu also sent out warnings that the country's steel production structure must be optimized.

Since special and quality steel output accounts only for eight to 10 percent of the country's total output, China rely on heavily imports for almost all steel products with high added-values, Wu said.