BEIJING, 19th November, 2024 (WAM) -- China's continuous improvement of air quality and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions has benefited not only the country itself, but also the rest of Asia and the world, foreign scholars told Global Times at an event held in Beijing, calling for more success stories like "China Blue" to spread across the Asian region and help countries reduce air pollution.
Representatives from authorities and research institutions from China, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Mongolia, the Philippines, totalling nearly 50 participants, attended the event.
At the opening ceremony of the Asian Regional Exchange for Clean Air held in Beijing on Monday, Lei Yu, Director of Atmospheric Environmental Planning Institute, Chinese Academy of Environmental Planning of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, said that since the implementation of the Air Pollution Prevention and Control Action Plan in 2013, China has implemented a series of measures, including adjustments to the energy structure, industrial restructuring, and major emission reduction projects. These efforts have led to significant progress and notable achievements in air pollution prevention and control.
"Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei is renowned for turning smog into blue skies, much like what we are seeing today on such a beautiful autumn day," Glynda Bathan-Baterina, Deputy Executive Director of Clean Air Asia, an international NGO, said at the event, hailing China's impressive results in this regard.
In 2023, countries in East Asia, South Asia, and Southeast Asia have shown great economic growth momentum, but this has also been accompanied by increased energy consumption and emission intensity.