Chinese Premier Li Keqiang speaks with global corporate leaders at the Annual Meeting of the New Champions of the World Economic Forum in Dalian, Liaoning province on September 9, 2015. [Photo provided to China Daily]

DALIAN -- Premier Li Keqiang said on Wednesday that China will live up to its promises on environmental protection and seek growth from carbon-efficient industries.

"China has announced its voluntary emission reduction targets and it will brave pressures to produce what has been promised," Li said when meeting with business leaders ahead of the Annual Meeting of the New Champions, also known as the Summer Davos forum.

China must strike a balance between the need to develop and its obligations to fulfill international responsibilities by switching to a more sustainable development mode, Li said.

China aims to hit the CO2 emissions peak by around 2030, after which the CO2 emissions per unit of GDP will drop by 60 to 65 percent compared to the year 2005. Non-fossil energy will account for 20 percent of primary energy consumption by around 2030.

China has made strong efforts to achieve green development, Li said, citing a 5.9-percent drop in energy consumption per unit of GDP in the first half of 2015.

Li dismissed concerns that China's economic momentum may be undermined as it presses ahead with environmental protection.

China is seeking growth from service industries such as online retailing, Li said. "But it will take time," he added.