Currently, the country's remanufacturing companies mainly focus on vehicle engines, gear boxes, steering gear and electric generators, with the combined annual industrial output value estimated at 2 billion yuan.

Xu Binshi, an academician with the Chinese Academy of Engineering, said remanufacturing, which originated from Europe and the U.S., saves energy and resources, and protects the environment.

"By using a wide variety of advanced technologies, we can extract the most possible value from worn parts or wasted resources, and the remanufactured products will be equal to new ones, but only cost about half as much," Xu said.

"Compared with making new products, remanufacturing is estimated to save energy by 60 percent, and raw materials by 70 percent. It also substantially reduces air pollutants," Xie said, adding that remanufacturing would be vital to the nation's efforts in achieving its energy saving and carbon emission reduction targets.

During the next five years, the NDRC will strengthen support for pilot enterprises in car components remanufacturing, and advance the remanufacturing of construction machinery and the renovation of large tires.

It will also take measures to promote qualified remanufactured products and boost recycling, Xie said.

As remanufacturing requires support from other sectors such as professional recycling, disassembling and cleaning, the country would consider the construction of industrial bases to concentrate related sectors.

Xie said the country would also enhance the role of research institutions and companies in pushing forward technological innovation in the remanufacturing sector. The government also mulled over a plan to establish a remanufacturing research center.

"The NDRC will work with other government departments in drafting a category for remanufactured products," said Xie, who failed to give a timetable for doing so.