BEIJING - CHINA will keep a tight grip on investment in 2008, especially in industries that consume a lot of energy and cause pollution, in order to curb inflation and prevent the economy from overheating, a senior planning official said.

Mr Zhu Hongren, deputy head of the economic cooperation bureau of the National Development and Reform Commission, said Beijing would also restrict exports from these sectors.

Mr Zhu's comments were in a statement released on Monday to reporters ahead of an NDRC news conference. -- REUTERS