The recently concluded Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Meeting held in Beijing, China on November 5 to 11 marked the beginning of pollution control strategies and environment-friendly measures undertaken by the government to ensure air quality during the summit, hence, the term "APEC blue" was coined which refers to the clear blue skies.

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Chai Fahe of Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences said that "China will take the highest-level measures to guarantee air quality during the APEC meetings," China Daily revealed. He added further, that air pollution in the region will be trimmed by 30 to 40 percent.

China Daily reported that Beijing is determined to maintain the clean 'blue sky' to allow residents a pollution-free atmosphere, just the way it was during the APEC Meeting.

Beijing Environmental Protection Bureau Deputy Chief, Fang Li, said that they are planning to rid about a million vehicles with low emission standards, for such move is crucial to attain substantial reduction of air pollutants.

During the summit, restrictions were imposed on the use of private cars, public and government vehicles and utility trucks, to limit the volume of vehicles on the road. Also, operations on several industries and manufacturing firms, including construction sites which greatly contribute to air pollution were suspended.

Such radical steps indeed worked and air quality in Beijing has remarkably improved. Hebei province and Tianjin also helped in the efforts to control air pollution.

Bureau's exhaust emission chief, Li Kunsheng shared that less than 20% of Beijing's 5.5 million vehicles fall under low emission groups.  The government is currently conceptualizing plans on how to lessen the volume of vehicles and improve the necessary technologies.