Sandstorms to Be Lessened in Beijing before 2005

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, March 28, 2002

Sandstorms to Be Lessened in Beijing before 2005

Beijing is planning to eliminate sandstorms originated in local areas and to lessen those from the northwest before the year of 2005, the city's mayor said in a press conference Thursday in Beijing.

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Beijing is planning to eliminate sandstorms originated in local areas and to lessen those from the northwest before the year of 2005, the city's mayor said in a press conference Thursday in Beijing.

"Before 2005, we will basically eliminate sandstorms originatedin local areas," said Liu Qi, mayor of Beijing and president of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the 29th Olympiad (BOCOG).

"By 2007, we will basically bring the desert land (in the northwest areas to Beijing) under control. In addition, we will work closely with relevant national institutions in the construction of an ecological sphere for the capital and the preventing and harnessing of desert areas," he added.

A terrible sandstorm swept Beijing in mid-March, and this how-to-deal-with-yellow-dust question would find an answer in the Beijing Olympic Action Plan.

According to the Action Plan, more forested areas are to be developed and organic agriculture is to be promoted for the city of Beijing. It is expected that, by 2005, 100,000 hectares of forested areas will be built in the mountains; 23,000 hectares of green belts will be formed along major rivers and roads; and 12,500 hectares of green barriers will appear around the city. By 2007, forest coverage of the city will amount to 50% of the total area.

Sandstorms won't absolutely disappear in the near future; however, the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games won't suffer the natural disaster since it happens only in Spring.

"Although it won't affect the Beijing Olympics," said Liu Jingmin, executive vice-president of the BOCOG, "we will still tryour best to reduce its harm to the minimum because it affects the local people's life."

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