China.org.cn | October 23, 2020
Compared to five years ago, the overall quality of the ecological environment in China has improved, and the phased goals of pollution prevention and control successfully achieved. As of the end of 2019, eight binding targets set in the 13th Five-Year-Plan for the protection of ecological environment have been completed ahead of schedule, including the desired percentage reduction of PM2.5 concentration in substandard cities at or above prefecture-level, the percentage of surface water with quality at or better than Grade III, reduction in the percentage of surface water with quality worse than Grade V; in addition, the carbon dioxide emission intensity per unit of GDP has been lowered, and there has been significant reduction of major pollutants discharge including chemical oxygen demand (COD), ammonia nitrogen, sulfur dioxide (SO2), and nitrogen oxides (NOx). From January to September this year, further progress has been achieved in terms of eight targets: the number of days with good air quality in cities at prefecture-level and above reached 87.2%, and it is expected that the binding target of 84.5% will be achieved by the end of this year. By the end of this year, the nine binding targets set for protection of the ecological environment established in the 13th Five-Year Plan outline will be fully completed.
At the same time, progress has been made in protection of the ecological environment on all fronts. Reforms to establish a sound ecological environment have gone smoothly. Laws, regulations, standards and policy systems have been continuously improved. Law enforcement in regard to the ecological environment has been continuously increased. Smooth progress has been made in major ecological conservation and restoration projects. Our ability to prevent and manage ecological environmental risks has been continuously improved. We have accelerated improvements in the ecological environment governance system and modernization of governance capacity. With these efforts and progress, we have laid a solid foundation for building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects.
In the next step, following the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, thoroughly putting into practice Xi Jinping's thinking on promoting ecological progress and the new development philosophy, and fulfilling the requirement for high-quality development, we will place greater importance on ecological restoration and environmental protection. While continuing to advance regular epidemic control, we will also promote economic and social development and ecological environmental protection. We will ensure stability on the six fronts (employment, the financial sector, foreign trade, foreign investment, domestic investment, and expectations) and security in the six areas (job security, basic living needs, operations of market entities, food and energy, stable industrial and supply chains, and the normal functioning of primary-level governments) and accomplish ecological and environmental protection tasks proposed in the 13th Five-Year Plan. At the same time, we will make overall plans of the 14th Five-Year Plan for protecting the ecological environment and scientifically identify the main objectives and tasks. With unremitting efforts, we will adhere to the same working direction and go deeper and further to continue to tackle pollution and promote ecological protection to a new level, establishing a good start for the 14th Five-Year Plan.
I would now like to answer your questions.
Shou Xiaoli:
Thank you, Mr. Zhao, for your introduction. Now, the floor is open for questions. Please identify your news outlet before you raise the question. Let's begin.