In 2018, the overall environmental quality in Southwest China's Guizhou province improved, according to an environmental quality and protection target completion status report handed in by Guizhou government on Nov 27.

The report calculated the environmental quality based on the province's air, water and radiation. From January to October this year, nine cities in Guizhou met the national ambient air quality standards, with 97.1 percent of days having good air quality.

Guiyang city had 98 percent of days with good air quality, ranking 12th among 169 key cities. The 55 sections of surface water in Guiyang, which are included in the national water pollution control action plan, have a qualification rate of 96.4 percent.

According to the report, Guizhou treats environmental protection as a priority and organized a specialized team to carry out monthly ecological environment supervision.

To guarantee reaching the annual target, Guizhou improved environmental protection work in pollution control, eco-environmental protection reform, legal system improvement and eco-environmental data management.

Around 14 ecological preservation areas in five categories, that account for 26.06 percent of the total territory of Guizhou, are considered the baseline of ecological preservation in the province.

The report also points out the problems and difficulties Guizhou is facing in fulfilling the responsibilities of ecological protection, including the heavy task of pollution prevention and a lack of rectification efforts to combat environmental problems.

Xiong Dewei, head of Guizhou Ecology and Environment Department, confirmed that, based on the report, Guizhou will strive to solve highlighted environmental problems and provide more high-quality ecological products to the people in 2019.