Xi Jinping promises 'iron fist' for polluters

Want China Times, Xinhua 2015-03-08

Xi Jinping, second left, during the work report review with NPC deputies
from Jiangxi province, March 6. (Photo/Xinhua)

Chinese president Xi Jinping said that he will crack down on polluters in the smog-choked country.

"We are going to punish, with an iron fist, any violators who destroy the environment, with no exceptions," said Xi, while reviewing the work report of the State Council together with National People's Congress (NPC) deputies from Jiangxi province.

He asked the Chinese to protect the environment like they care for their own eyes and lives, suggesting his resolve to curb widespread pollution that the world's second largest economy is battling. "Protecting the environment is ensuring livelihood," Xi said.

"Environmental pollution is a blight on people's quality of life and a trouble that weighs on their hearts," said the recent government work report.

The report also said that the world's biggest emitter will cut the intensity of carbon dioxide by at least 3.1% this year.

Soil, water and air pollution have remained hot topics at China's annual sessions of the top legislature and political advisory body.

China declared a "war against pollution" last year, calling for tougher regulations over polluting industries.

"Problems such as administration loopholes, weak public awareness and lack of supervision still exist," said Qin Dahe, an academic with the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

He suggested long-term planning with a focus on the promotion of green techniques.

Talking with the Jiangxi deputies, Xi also pledged to advance the battle against corruption and the governance of the Communist Party of China (CPC), calling for them to "pluck the rotten trees, cure the sick trees and straighten the crooked trees."

Supervision over officials, especially CPC officials, should be strengthened, he said.

Zhang Dejiang, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, joined discussion with deputies from the Hong Kong and Macau special administrative regions.

Talking with deputies from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), Zhang said that the CPC Central Committee sincerely hopes that the region can carry out universal suffrage in the election of the HKSAR Chief Executive in 2017 according to the Hong Kong Basic Law and decisions made by the NPC Standing Committee.

That has been the CPC Central Committee's consistent stance on Hong Kong and also the expectations of the Hong Kong compatriots, he said.

Top political adviser Yu Zhengsheng called for the enhancement of the overall strength and competitiveness of the country's culture while joining the panel discussion with the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee members from the cultural and art sector.

Wang Qishan, head of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, called on to advance the anti-corruption battle and the building of CPC work style and a clean government.

He told NPC deputies from Fujian province that supervision over officials and the accountability mechanism should be highlighted this year.

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