China Manufactures CFC Substitute 　　China's first production line of R-134a, a freezing agent substitute for the environmentally damaging chlorofluorocarbon (CFC), went into operation in Xi'an Saturday. 　　It is expected that 200 tons of R-134a will be produced every year and a second phase of the project will produce 5,000 tons when completed. 　　It has been unequivocally proved that CFC, used widely in the world's cooling industry, is gradually destroying the planet's ozone layer, leading to "greenhouse effects". 　　According to international agreements, the world's developed countries ceased producing and using ozone-depleting materials in 1996, and the deadline for developing countries is 2010. 　　China has announced that it would stop producing this kind of product by 2005. 　　The new substitute, which is being produced by the Xi'an-Jinzu Modern Chemical Industry Co. Ltd., is expected to contribute to China's realization of that goal. Economicnews 1999-04-25 Page1 Full Story in Chinese