Xi highlights need to expand clean energy

China plans to push forward clean energy use for heating in northern regions, to further reduce smoggy days in winter and improve the energy consumption mix, the top leadership said on Wednesday.

In the process, companies will play the major role, and governments will facilitate the clean energy expansion and help residents to accept the new heating source, according to the statement issued after a meeting on Wednesday of the Central Leading Group on Finance and Economic Affairs, presided over by President Xi Jinping.

The regions could choose gas or electricity based on their situations and increase the proportion of clean energy in the energy consumption mix, the statement said.