China's vice premier Zeng Peiyan called on ordinary people in China to get involved in the ongoing campaign of energy reduction on Sunday, the first day of a nationwide publicity week themed with energy conservation.

"The publicity week is a good chance to enhance the public awareness of energy conservation," said Zeng, who attended activities of the publicity week organized by the government of Nanjing in Jiangsu Province.

The whole nation, including the sectors of construction, production, circulation and consumption, should be mobilized to practice energy saving in a down-to-earth manner, he added.

Zeng urged government departments and public places to set air conditioners at or above 26 degrees Celsius during this summer, and asked residents to do the same at home, in a bid to save more energy.

During the nationwide publicity week, which lasts from June 10 to 16, various parts of China will hold all types of activities to publicize the importance of energy saving.

The Ministry of Communications would shut off the air conditioners in all of its offices on June 12, and staff who drive to work are encouraged to take buses, ride bicycles or go on foot.

East China's Anhui Province said it would cut the use of air conditioners in office by two hours every day, and elevators would be made available above the fifth floor only.

Under a five-year plan up to 2010, China pledged to cut energy consumption per unit of gross domestic product (GDP) by 20 percent, or four percent each year, but consumption fell by just 1.23 percent last year.

(Xinhua News Agency June 11, 2007)