China will put in place a system of conservation standards to cap energy consumption for all major energy-intensive industries by 2020, according to a circular issued by the State Council, China's cabinet, on Saturday.

According to the circular on boosting work to standardize energy conservation, 80 percent of the country's energy efficiency standards should be on par with international standards in the same time frame.

The circular requires governments at all levels to invest more in research and personnel training for standardizing energy conservation.

It pointed out the current standards have limited coverage and are outdated.