Zhao Yixin, director of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Environmental Protection (BMBEP), said that the air pollution this winter is likely to be very serious. In order to improve Beijing's air quality, a complete set of measures will be launched by BMBEP.

To lessen the level of particulate matter in the air, coal used in Beijing's furnaces should have a low dust and sulfur content, according to the newly launched rules.

Meanwhile, construction sites have to abide by environmental protection standards. Enterprises breaking the rules will be ordered to stop operations.

The new measures are the 7th phase in Beijing's comprehensive plan to curb its air pollution.

Statistics show that the level of sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide in the air decreased by 12.1, 4.2 and 5.7 percent respectively from January to September this year, due to Beijing's series of environmental protection endeavors.

(Xinhua News Agency November 1, 2001)