Beijing's PM2.5 air pollution forecast to keep dropping

Beijing is expected to see its average density of PM2.5 particulate matter go below 50 micrograms per cubic meter this year and reach the national standard for what's considered safe of 35 micrograms per cubic meter between 2030 to 2035, a senior air pollution control expert said.

He Kebin, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and dean of Tsinghua University's School of Environment, made the comment on the sideline of the two-day 2019 Beijing International Forum for Metropolitan Clean Air Actions - Clean Air and Climate Change, which concluded on Tuesday.

Beijing made marked progress in air pollution control in the past 20 years, largely as a result of the local government's efforts. The average density of PM2.5 in the capital went down by 31.5 micrograms from 2013, reaching 58 micrograms in 2017. The local government's pollution control efforts contributed 65 percent of the decrease, He told the forum.