Plan gives public a chance to catch breath

China will further improve air quality under a three-year plan that will provide residents in 338 cities more good-air days - accounting for 80 percent of the year - and lower pollution levels by 2020, Li Ganjie, minister of environmental protection, said at a weekend conference.

After the five-year national campaign against air pollution marked a satisfying end in 2017, the new three-year plan is about to kick in for a better environment and green growth, Li said at the two-day national environmental protection work conference which concluded on Saturday.

By 2020, residents in 338 cities will enjoy more days with good air quality, meaning the air quality index will measure 100 or less, accounting for 80 percent of the year - or about 292 days, he said.