THE Chinese central government wants annual economic growth of 7.5 percent over the next five years as it moves to spur production efficiency and cut energy consumption, China''s top planning agency said yesterday.

The government wants to reduce energy consumption to reduce one unit of gross domestic product by 20 percent during the 2006-2010 period, Ma Kai, commissioner of the National Development and Reform Commission, said in a statement on the agency''s Website.

The projected economic hike will moderate from an average yearly 8.8 percent during the five years through 2005, the statement said.

"China must improve efficiency in power use and consider the environment while carrying out massive economic development," Ma said.

The government expects to double per capita GDP by 2010. The comparative figure was 7,086 yuan (US$873) in 2000, according to Ma.

The economy has boomed in the last decade with an average growth rate of more than 9 percent a year. The economy expanded 9.4 percent in the first nine months of the year powered by continued investment growth and exports.

The central government has been striving to bolster domestic demand while curbing unnecessary investment as it bids to seek sustainable development and rely less on exports.

Economic expansion may ease to 9 percent or slightly higher for 2005 as growth in investment and exports is expected to moderate in the fourth quarter, Zheng Jingping, a spokesman for the country''s top statistics bureau said last Thursday.

Ma said the country faces challenges including a stiffer trade environment, power shortages and operational risks in financial sectors over the next five years.

The commissioner also said China will step up efforts to reduce poverty and improve people''s living standards.

The country still has 26.1 million people living in poverty in rural areas. Poverty is defined as those with annual personal income of less than 668 yuan, the statement said. Another 22 million people live on minimum wages in cities.