China is to elevate the status of State Environmental Protection Administration to a ministry, which is among the major 27 ministries and commissions of the Cabinet, said Hua Jianmin, secretary-general of the State Council, on Tuesday.

"Environmental protection is the fundamental policy of our country, and is crucial to the existence and development of the Chinese nation," Hua, also a State Councilor, said in an explanation of a government reshuffle plan at the ongoing parliamentary session.

China will face the severe challenge of environmental protection for a long time to come, with the arduous task of reducing pollutants, he noted.