Environmental protection has once again become one of the hottest issues at this year’s Two Sessions.

The Chinese government will work to prevent and control pollution and boost environmental protection, according to the government work report delivered by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang at the second session of the 13th National People’s Congress (NPC) on Tuesday. 

Members of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee and National People’s Congress (NPC) deputies are polling their wisdom to further curb air pollution and increase the number of days with blue skies.

NPC deputy Li Jiheng, Party chief of northern China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, has emphasized that the ecological environment should not be sacrificed for temporary economic growth.

According to Li, the local government has endeavored to protect the environment through comprehensive methods, including changing traditional coal excavation methods as well as other extensive resource development models, and accelerating the formation of green industrial structure, green production methods, and green lifestyle. Furthermore, the local government wants to adjust major ecological restoration projects to local conditions.

Industrial structural transformation has been prioritized by east China’s Jiangxi province to better protect the ecology, according to NPC deputy Liu Qi, Party chief of the province.

The Jiangxi government has accelerated the development of the modern service industry, covering aviation, electronic information, equipment manufacturing, new energy, and traditional Chinese medicine. The added value of high-tech industries and strategic emerging industries respectively accounts for 33.8% and 17.1% of the industrial proportion of the regulations. In addition, the forest coverage rate is stable at 63.1%, maintaining the nation’s leading position.

President Xi Jinping on Tuesday underlined a resolute and effective fight to prevent and control pollution, saying prominent environmental issues of concerns to the people must be addressed properly, according to Xinhua.

In the transition of China’s economy from the phase of rapid growth to a stage of high-quality development, pollution control and environmental governance are two major tasks that must be accomplished, he added.

The country should explore a new path of high-quality development that prioritizes ecology and highlights green development, Xi said.