BEIJING — Vice-Premier Han Zheng called for efforts to ensure an adequate supply of power amid growing electricity demand over the summer.

Han, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks on June 15 while addressing a teleconference. He said that safeguarding the electricity supply is a key part of the current economic work.

While maximizing the role of coal in underpinning the power supply, the country needs to set up a regulatory mechanism for the coal supply to meet the rising demand for electricity, the vice-premier said.

Major coal-producing regions should actively seek ways of increasing the coal output, Han said, calling for stricter regulation of coal producers' performance of mid- and long-term contracts in a bid to stabilize coal prices.

The country should also ensure that the rail, road and port transportation of coal operates steadily, improve the incentive and restraint mechanism for coal supply and prices, and put in place fiscal and financial support, Han said.