An international center for promotion and transfer of solar energy will be built in Lanzhou, capital of northwest China's Gansu Province, with financial support from the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).

The projected center will be established on the basis of the existing Natural Energy Institute of Gansu, and the UNIDO will pump up 300,000 U.S. dollars as a fund for startup, said Xi Wenhua, vice president of the Gansu Provincial Academy of Sciences and also head of the Natural Energy Institute.

The Chinese government will input 150 million yuan (about 18.5 million U.S. dollars) to cover the costs for land acquisition and expenses needed in building a mansion for the new center, said Xi.

There are over 3,000 firms engaged in production of solar energy converters across China. By late 2004, the Chinese companies had produced 500,000 megawatt photovoltaic units.

The Natural Energy Institute of Gansu has developed more than 130 solar energy technology applications items in its 30 years of history. It has so far set up an information network for an exchange of solar energy technologies and conducting relevant cooperation with organizations from more than 90 countries, and has helped train approximately 500 solar energy technical and managerial personnel for 76 developing countries.