Beijing records less heavily polluted days

BEIJING - Air quality in Beijing has seen strong improvements during the past six years. The city had 15 heavily polluted days in 2018, comparing to 58 in 2013, local authorities said Friday.

According to Beijing Municipal Ecological Environment Bureau, the city saw annual average concentration of sulfur dioxide, PM2.5, PM10 and nitrogen dioxide drop by 77.8, 42.7, 27.8 and 25 percent respectively from 2013 to 2018.

Since the central government rolled out an action plan on air pollution control in 2013, Beijing has taken measures such as encouraging clean energy and upgrading factories.

Li Xiang, official with the bureau, said the city still faced excessive air pollutant emissions, and there was still much to do to improve air quality. "Currently, the city is focusing on the control of heavy diesel vehicles, dust and volatile organic compounds, and has been cooperating with neighboring areas to ease air pollution," he said.