N China province to expand green belt around Beijing

SHIJIAZHUANG - China's Hebei province will plant 1.4 million mu (933 square kilometers) of trees in counties around Beijing to fend off sand and pollution that heads toward the Chinese capital.

The green belt, covering 14 counties in Hebei, aims to improve the ecological environment of Beijing's neighboring areas, said a statement by the provincial government of Hebei.

The province will also speed up efforts to phase out heavy industrial polluters and curb consumption of fossil fuels, the statement said.

Beijing frequently encounters strong winds and sandy weather, though forestation over the years has helped reduce sand storms. The city is also under pressure to improve its air quality, which is growing worse partially due to the increasing ownership of cars.

Hebei officials said the province planned to build a green belt of more than 10 million mu in counties neighboring Beijing and increase forest coverage to 49.5 percent by 2020.