Winter Olympic co-host city vows to improve air quality

ZHANGJIAKOU -?Zhangjiakou is drafting plans to improve air quality as it prepares to co-host the 2022 Winter Olympics with Beijing, the Zhangjiakou government said on Wednesday.

Environmental experts from Tsinghua University have been invited to assist in developing the Air Quality Improvement Plan for 2016-2022 for the city, officials with the city government said.

One goal is to keep the amount of PM2.5 particles within 25 micrograms per cubic meter. The current average PM2.5 density is 34 micrograms per cubic meter, figures with Zhangjiakou environment bureau show.

Hou Liang, Party secretary of Zhangjiakou, said the goal will force the city to further cut industrial emissions and improve industrial and energy structure.

Since 2010, Zhangjiakou has cut steel production capacity by more than 8 million tons, and cement production by 4.58 million tons.

Zhangjiakou will host most of the snow events for 2022 Winter Olympics.