Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli ordered a temporary shutdown of factories to
ensure air quality during a meeting of Asia-Pacific leaders in Beijing next
month.
It is the strongest measure yet to curb pollution for the Nov 7-11 meeting in
the capital, which has been enveloped by heavy smog over the past few days.
On Friday, Beijing extended a yellow alert for severe smog and air pollution,
with PM2.5 at more than 500 micrograms per cubic meter. The smog is not expected
to disperse until Saturday evening.
Zhang told officials that ensuring air quality during APEC is the "priority
of priorities", although the task will be a "tremendous pressure and challenge"
given dropping temperatures and the start of the coal burning season in northern
China.
Local authorities were said to ensure that high-polluting enterprises - such
as power, construction, steel making, petrochemicals and coking - in Beijing and
its neighborhood are suspended or reduced, and construction work halted.
Air pollution control in the notoriously smoggy Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region
this winter and spring next year is a top priority, and authorities must take
measures to cut pollution as a result of coal burning.
Zhang also said vehicle controls must be strictly enforced and residents
should be encouraged to take public transportation during the meeting, the
report said.
In an effort to ease traffic congestion and curb pollution, Beijing has
already announced that public workers in the capital will be given six days off
during the APEC meeting.