Beijing has made great progress in solving its air-pollution problem with clear skies appearing more often. 

The city's Environmental Protection Bureau says since the year 1998, 50 billion yuan or some US$6 billion have been invested in environmental pollution control and about 190 related rules and regulations have been enforced.

By September 15th, this year's clean days with the air quality above the level of two accounted to 62 percent of the total, a seven percent increase compared with last year.

(CRI September 17, 2003)