Beijing; The People's Liberation Army (PLA) has orderedChina's armed forces to cut costs and save energy in response to thegovernment's call for a resource efficient and environment-friendly society.

"The armed forces should be leading the drive to builda resource efficient society," Liao Xilong, director of the PLA generallogistics department, said at a meeting on the "modernisation" ofmilitary logistics.

A report from the general logistics department said thearmed forces saved 1.4 billion yuan ($179 million) by reducing water use by 40million tonnes, coal use by 1.15 million tonnes and oil fuel by 55,000 tonnesin 2006, according to Tuesday's People's Daily.

The newspaper quoted unnamed officials as saying furtherefforts would be made to promote the use of wind power, solar energy andgeothermal energy in the armed forces.

The logistics department would also tighten checks onmilitary infrastructure projects to prevent the unnecessary demolition ofbarracks and the construction of extravagant new buildings.

But Liao also warned army officials against aiming for quickresults and instant gains in practicing thrift.

"Energy saving should not be achieved at the cost ofthe army's combat effectiveness and logistical support," Liao was quotedas saying by the newspaper.

China'sdefence expenditure in 2004 was 220 billion yuan, an annual growth of 15.3percent, rising 12.5 percent to 247 billion yuan in 2005, and the budget for2006 was 283.83 billion yuan ($35 billion).

China'sspending per serviceman averaged 107,607 yuan, amounting to 3.74 percent ofthat of the US and 7.07percent of that of Japan.