The study examines how China's energy use has changed alongside its economic growth. It looks into whether the reported progress in China’s economy and energy efficiency is accurate. The researchers find that China's energy intensity has decreased over time in a logical way. They discover that this decrease is a result of improvements in using energy more efficiently across different sectors of the Chinese economy. Specifically, between 1998 and 2000, advancements in how energy was used in the Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Industries led to an overall decrease in energy intensity, with the Secondary Industry contributing the most to this positive change.