China is determined to significantly bring down its pollution levels. The government has unveiled an ambitious paln to address the country's smog problem and provide people with more days with good air quality. 

This was among the highlights of Premier Li Keqiang's Annual Government Work Report, according to China Daily.

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"Pollution control and environmental protection are important to people's health and the sustainable development of the nation," Li said. "So we must work hard to move forward."

The 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-20) is the Chinese government's road map for social and economic development. The plan aims to increase the percentage of days with good air quality from 76.7 percent last year to 80 percent by 2020.

In line with this plan, China intends to decrease its pollution levels by reducing the emmission of major water and air pollutants and by 2 to 3 percent this year.

This move is expected to bring down the concentration of PM2.5 in the air.

According to the Ministry of Environmental Protection, the concentration of PM2.5 in China has already dropped from 72 micrograms per cubic meter in 2013 to only 55 micrograms in 2015.

To further demonstrate China's resolve to confront its pollution problem, the central government has enforced even tighter restrictions on vehicle emissions. The new restrictions means that up to 3.8 million outdated or high-emission vehicles will be retired from the road this year.

The national government has stressed that all companies that are part of major polluting industries (including steel, cement making, papermaking and printing) should strictly adhere to the country's emission standards.

"I am pleased to see the government's endeavors in environmental protection," said Lu Lunyan, Climate and Energy Program Director of World Wildlife Fund China. He added that such measures would significantly boost China's efforts to cut its pollution levels by phasing out excessive capacity in its  industries. 

TagsChina Pollution, Annual Government Work Report, China Central Government, China smog