Beijing is speeding up its environmental protection work and the making of a sustainable development plan to compete for the host city of the 2008 Olympic Games.

Yu Xiaoxuan, deputy director of the Beijing Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau and head of the environmental department under the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games Bid Committee, said here today that the International Olympic Committee had passed an agenda for facing the 21st century last year, stressing that the universality of sport should be used to promote sustainable development in the host city of the Games.

"Beijing can do its best to realize sustainable development," said Yu.

Beijing plans to increase the sewage treatment rate in the city from the current 42 percent to 90 percent by 2008, and natural gas usage volume from the current one billion cubic meters to 4.7 billion cubic meters.

The garbage treatment rate will be increased from the current 70 percent to 100 percent within eight years, and green covered areas in the city will surpass 50 percent. More than 240 square kilometers of trees and grass will be planted around Beijing, according to Yu.

The environmental department, made up of seven officials, was set up under the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games Bid Committee on October 19. Prior to that, work on the environment was conducted up by the engineering department of the committee. An environmental evaluation was conducted to select the site of the main sports event centers.

Recently, a "green Olympic plan" was jointly signed by the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games Bid Committee, the Beijing Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau and more than 20 non-governmental environmental organizations.

Beijing's citizens, called on by the plan, will take part in construction of environmental-friendly communities, schools, enterprises and families. The citizens will become the major force pushing forward Beijing's improvement of environment.

"On the other hand, the ultimate purpose of Beijing's environmental improvement is not the Olympic Games, but the interests of ordinary residents in the city," said Yu.

Beijing had made long-term plans for environmental improvement before its bid for the 2008 Olympic Games. The plan will stay the same no matter if Beijing holds the Games or not.

"Our goal is for Beijing to have a good environment not only during the Games but also after the Games," Yu said, "and this is the reason why Beijing citizens wholeheartedly support the bid for the Games."

(People's Daily 11/12/2000)