China experienced a drop in both the amount of chemical oxygen demand and the emission of some key water and air pollutants in 2008, said Zhou Shengxian, minister of environmental protection, Wednesday.

Addressing the opening ceremony of the 11th China International Environmental Protection Exhibition and Conference, the minister said that the government has made many efforts in energy saving and emissions reduction, and introduced policies to promote environmental protection.

He said that in 2008 the emission of sulphur dioxide and the amount of chemical oxygen demand, were down 5.95 percent and 4.42 percent year on year.

Last year, the country's energy consumption per unit of GDP dropped by 4.59 percent compared with the previous year, and 10.08percent against that of 2005.

The minister pledged to further develop the environmental industry amid the current global financial crisis and he called it an "engine" to help the country achieve a steady and relatively fast economic development.

Some 600 companies are exhibiting at the 11th China International Environmental Protection Exhibition and Conference, a biennial event in Beijing.

This year's conference and exhibition at the Beijing International Exhibition Center will last until June 6.

Source:Xinhua