Chinese Vice Premier Zeng Peiyan has urged local governments to push forward industrial restructuring and take effective measures to curb pollution.
China's commitment in reducing energy consumption and cutting pollution is "unalterable", said Zeng during his inspection tour in central Hunan Province from May 29 to May 2.
Local governments must carry out the policy and fulfil the goal with full efforts, Zeng said.
Dongting Lake, the country's second largest freshwater lake, has suffered serious pollution in recent years.
Earlier this month, more than 100 paper mills that discharge chemical waste into the lake were ordered by Hunan authorities to be closed after they failed to live up to promises to reduce pollution.
Zeng urged local governments to continue such efforts and take more measures to promote the environmental-friendly industry and technology.
China has set a goal to slash its energy consumption per unit of domestic gross product by 20 percent and the discharges of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) by 10 percent between 2006 and 2010.
During his four-day tour in Hunan, Zeng also visited factories, residential communities and farmers.
He urged local authorities to be more attentive to the concerns of the public and help solve their difficulties, especially in housing.
(Xinhua News Agency May 4, 2007)
