LONDON - China last year became the largest global investor in renewable energy and is now a leader in the industry, the chief economist of the International Energy Agency said.

Every step that China takes to limit emissions growth is closely examined as China has been a big emitter of greenhouse gases, Dr Fatih Birol told China Daily in an exclusive interview.

"(China's) per capita emissions are still low, however, compared to most advanced economies," Birol added.