On the sidelines of the ongoing Boao Forum for Asia, energy heavyweights and other participants from around the globe have urged developing nations to use more renewable energy to promote energy efficiency.

CRI Reporter Chen Xi brings you the details from the forum venue in the southern province of Hainan.

Global energy company executives and industry experts at this year's forum say that the use of renewable energy with profound efficiency is conducive for sustainable development in the region.

They applaud Asia's achievements in this area so far, and in particular the efforts that China has made.

Fu Chengyu, president of one of China's top energy producers, China National Offshore Oil Corporation, says the government has been sticking to its policy of high efficient energy consumption, while at the same time, focusing more on the actual well-being of the public.

"I think it marks one of the challenges China faces at present, which is highly connected with energy, the environment and efficiency. Hence, considering the issue at the same time, China also puts other items on the agenda, such as employment and others."

He says the situation is the same for other Asian countries, where the majority of the population is involved in agricultural production.

Rob Morrison, Chairman and CEO of the financial company CLSA, is one of the attendees at the conference.

"One of the things you see particularly in Asia, fantastic growth of economies here, is efficient energy usage. Should China look into the issue of energy efficiency? In its eleventh five-year plan, that is one of the keys to the energy problem in China.But in Asia overall, it is that to improve its energy efficiency."

John Rutledge, former financial advisor of US presidents, suggests exploring the agricultural sector for energy sources.

"Perhaps the best opportunity for Asia is agriculture, because the biology research in agriculture is doing things to improve yields, improve biomass and grow energy inside Asia."

Leif Johansson, CEO of Volvo, explains the role of bio-energy in the automotive industry.

"What we have experienced right now is first generation of fuels coming in. We can see that coming to us all already is what we called second-generation fuels, which is called bio-refinery. We can take the broader mass of biomass available, typically those that do not compete with foods."

China, one of the major developing economies in the region, has highlighted the use of renewable energy in its national policy especially during recent years.

The country aims to improve its energy efficiency by 20 percent from its 2005 level by 2010.

Chen Xi, CRI News, Boao, Hainan Province.