Govt determined to make skies blue again

After the severe smog that repeatedly blighted Beijing over the winter, blue sky and clean air have accompanied the ongoing sessions of China's top legislature and political advisory body, where one of the hot issues is how to ensure people can enjoy more blue-sky days throughout the country.

Air pollution is a pressing problem in large parts of China, but particularly in the north in winter when coal burning for heating exacerbates the problem of industrial and vehicle emissions.

In response to growing public concerns about the frequent smog, Premier Li Keqiang, delivering the Government Work Report on Sunday, pledged the government would "work faster" to address pollution caused by coal burning so as to "make our skies blue again".