All-electric Chery car at an auto show. [Photo/China Daily]

Editor's note: In advance of the China International Green Industry Expo 2010 (CIGIE 2010) that opens today, China Daily reporter Han Tianyang interviewed Vice-Minister of Commerce Jiang Yaoping about highlights of the event and China's "green" industry.

Q: Could you summarize the highlights of the green industry expo?

A: This is the first time the Chinese government has held a high-standard expo on green industry. First-class enterprises from both home and abroad will display their latest technology, products, ideas to save energy, environmental cleanup and the recycling economy.

The expo is a truly international event with 212 exhibitors from 25 countries and regions in Asia, Europe, America and Australia. About 60 percent of the companies are from abroad. All exhibitors are leaders in their sectors with advanced products and technologies recognized by professional panels.

Under the auspices of the government, the exhibition booths are free for the exhibitors.

The general public audience can also visit the expo and get basic knowledge about green industry.

The China International Green Industry Forum 2010 will be held at the same time with the expo. Its theme is "green economy leads future development of the world". Chinese government leaders, foreign government representatives, senior business managers and academics will be present and give speeches at the summit.

Q: Who are the exhibitors and what will they display in the expo?

A: Exhibitors include transnational companies Siemens, GE and Veolia Environnement as well as big domestic companies such as China Energy Conservation and Environmental Protection Group, Sinovel Wind Group Co Ltd and Suntech Power Holdings Co Ltd.

They are displaying products and technologies in new energy-saving materials, new-energy vehicles, seawater desalination, garbage cogeneration, water treatment, solar power, wind power, nuclear power, bioenergy and carbon dioxide capture as well as solutions for low-carbon cities and green industry systems.

The expo has a comprehensive exhibit hall and venues for sectors in the green economy. We are also hosting a clean-energy vehicle exhibit square and sections for integrated solutions, green finance and ecological demonstration.

Q: Why is the Chinese government holding such an expo?

A: The Chinese government pays great attention to the green economy and has adopted sustainable development as its national strategy.

With this green industry expo, the Chinese government has organized three important venues - for domestic and foreign companies to enhance exchange and create business opportunities, for the government to display its decision and efforts in coping with climate change and developing a green economy and to educate the public about environment protection and ecological civilization.

Q: What is your view on the development of China's green industry?

A: Although starting later than some other countries, China's effort for a green economy has a solid industrial base, a huge market and strong momentum.

In some areas, such as clean energy, Chinese companies compete with their overseas counterparts at almost the some starting line.

China has become the biggest production base of photovoltaic products in the world, with leading companies like Suntech Power Holdings Co Ltd and Yingli Green Energy Holding Co Ltd.

Last year, China's production of photovoltaic cells surpassed 4,000 megawatts, accounting for 40 percent of global output.

In other areas China still trails developed countries in technology and talent, so strengthened technological innovation and more international cooperation are required.

China is in a crucial period of economic transformation. I believe that the green economy has broad prospects and tremendous business opportunities. We will strengthen international exchange and cooperation in a broader and deeper way to achieve mutual benefit.

A Tsinghua professor describes a hydrogen-cell electric bus developed by the university. [Photo/China Daily]