The company, also known as Shougang Group, will maintain its annual iron and steel output at the six-million-ton level from 2003 in line with its strategic shift to less polluting industries,said board chairman Luo Bingsheng.

Shougang Group, located in the western part of Beijing, has been the principal source of air pollution in the Chinese capital city.

Environmentalists believe the move will result in cleaner air for Beijing, which has suffered severe air pollution over the pastfew years.

Many firms with polluting emissions have been closed down or forced to cut the discharge of pollutants during the last few years as part of Beijing's effort to improve its environment.

According to the company's development strategy, it will gradually change from steel production to cleaner areas such as high-tech industry, real estate and other service sectors.

The company attained a sales revenue of 36.4 billion yuan (4.43billion US dollars) in 2001. Of the total, the sales income fromnon-steel business increased 2.62 percent year on year to 18.4 billion yuan (2.24 billion US dollars), which, for the second consecutive year, was close to half the overall sales.

New high-tech products manufactured by Shougang Group include industrial robots and silicon chips.

Beijing's hosting of the 2008 Olympic Games has prompted decision makers in the capital to step up anti-pollution efforts.

As part of the efforts, Beijing has successfully encouraged residents and industrial sectors to use cleaner energy such as natural gas and electricity, and has introduced strict auto exhaust emission standards.

(eastday.com February 4, 2002)