Beijing recently drafted a 10-year plan on the capital's environmental protection. The plan, which runs until 2010, is designed to bring Beijing's environmental level up to State standards and the standards of the Olympic Games.

Beijing is determined to meet the goal by 2007 in its effort to host the Olympics in 2008, said Qu Geping, chairman of the Environmental and Resources Protection Committee under the Standing Committee of National People's Congress.

"Beijing is moving forward to improve its environment," Qu said. "It is expected to meet the environmental requirements of the Olympic Games in 2007."

With the development of the city's urban infrastructure and environmental management, the government is fully capable of fulfilling the commitment, Qu said.

Beijing is striving to adjust its industrial structures by cutting the use of coal, reducing car-emission related nitrogen dioxide and establishing additional pollution treatment centers, sources from the State Environmental Protection Administration said.

The city has taken about 100 emergent measures to reduce air pollution since 1999. Pollution by energy resources has been reduced with the increase of natural gas.

Beijing has increased its annual natural gas supply from 300 million cubic meters to 700 million cubic meters.

Pollution controls have also been widely applied to boilers and the city's 21,000 public buses. Another 50,000 vehicles were phased out and recycled for environmental consideration, according to statistics from the committee.

Many of Beijing's dirtiest streets have been revitalized by the city's environmental departments, which are also busy expanding the coverage of grass and trees.

Water pollution is also on the decline, thanks to government projects to clean the city's major rivers.

Beijing passed the Policy and Solution to Beijing's Environmental Pollution in 1999. The regulation called for a "significant'' improvement in the environment by the end of 2000. Water and air quality are expected to meet State environmental standards by 2002.

About 34 billion yuan (US$4 billion) is expected to be needed to meet State air-quality standards, Qu said.

Environmental protection must be put on the same high level as development of the economy in China's western regions, said Qu.

The ecological system in the country's western regions is plagued by environmental problems, such as desertification, shortage of water , urban water and air pollution.

"If these problems persist and cannot be effectively controlled, it will be very hard to fulfill ambitions to develop the western region," Qu said.

To answer environmental concerns in the west, the government has encouraged returning farmland to grass or forests and banning logging along the Yangtze and Yellow rivers.

The government has also set up several natural reserve zones along the two rivers to prevent further deterioration of the environment.

Qu said local governments in the western region should carefully study the feasibility of developing projects in the region. Any unplanned or blind initiatives of exploration should be avoided, he said.

Government of all levels should realize that protection of the environment should always come first, Qu said.

China still faces enormous environmental challenges to decrease the total amount of pollutant discharge, Qu said. He added that there are tough tasks ahead to realize the environmental goals set in the 10th Five-Year Plan (2001-2005).

During the Ninth Five-Year Plan (1996-2000), the State Council implemented the "One Control and Double Attainments'' project.

That means by the end of 2000, the country's total pollutant-discharge amount should meet State standards, while pollutant discharge from the nation's industrial pollution sources should meet both State and local standards by the end of 2000.

Air and water quality in different urban districts of major cities should meet State standards by the end of 2000, according to the State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA).

In 1999, the discharge of 12 industrial major pollutants in the country was lower than requirements designated in the total pollutant discharge control plan for the year 2000.

Investment in environmental protection is on the increase as well. In 1999, investment amounted to 1 per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP), which was 82.3 billion yuan (US$9.9 billion), according to SEPA statistics.

Among the 60 billion yuan (US$47.2 billion) in treasure bonds issued last year, 13.8 billion yuan (US$1.6 billion) was used on environmental projects.

The committee is drafting and modifying laws on environmental impact, anti-desertification, industrial pollution and water pollution, according to Qu.

China has a detailed legal system for environmental protection. The State Council has issued 123 official documents to protect the environment, while governments at local levels have put forth 800 regulations on environmental protection.

It is expected that a more effective and comprehensive legal system will be established in the future giving environmental protection a solid legal basis, Qu said.

(China Daily)