National People's Congress spokeswoman Fu Ying speaking at a news conference in Beijing, March 4, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]

Water and soil pollution prevention in China to be heightened

China is stepping up legislation to prevent water and soil pollution as "water and soil pollution in some areas in China is very serious".

Fu Ying also called for public participation in the revision of the Water Pollution Prevention and Control Law, adopted in 2008, and in the formation of the Soil Pollution Prevention and Control Law.

In the past several years progress has been made in environmental protection in China, but it still falls far short of public expectations, and air pollution, in particular, is very serious in parts of China in winter, so persistence is needed, Fu said.