Beijing to keep PM2.5 density low in 2017: gov't

BEIJING -- Beijing will try to keep its average PM2.5 density low in 2017, according to a government report.

The Beijing government's annual work report on environmental protection was reviewed Thursday by the Standing Committee of Beijing Municipal People's Congress. According to the report, the government will try to keep the city's average PM2.5 density within 60 micrograms per cubic meter next year.

With a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometers, PM2.5 is a type of particulate matter that causes hazardous smog.

The capital city has enhanced and will continue to strengthen efforts to battle air, soil and water pollution next year, said Fang Li, head of Beijing's environmental protection bureau.

Beijing's average density of hazardous fine particulate matter from January to October was 64 micrograms per cubic meter, a year-on-year decrease of 8.6 percent, according to the Beijing Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau.