A senior state leader said the country could lead the world in energy efficiency by 2050, China Daily reported.

By then, nuclear power and renewable energy is likely to account for at least half of the country's energy mix, said Lu Yongxiang, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the 11th National People's Congress.

He is urging policymakers to increase their efforts to develop a long-term plan for China's energy industry that focuses on clean energy development.

"We should have a clear strategic roadmap," said Yongxiang. "It is not only for 2020, but also for 2030 and 2050."

Yongxiang said he believes China should cut its fossil fuel use and bring its renewable energy use to 20 percent to 25 percent of its total energy consumption by 2050.

The latest estimates suggest China's energy consumption could reach 3.1 billion tons of standard coal equivalent by 2010.

Last year the country consumed 2.65 billion tons of standard coal equivalent, up 7.8 percent from the year before.