China dismissed few foreign athletes' worries about Beijing's pollution on Wednesday, saying that they will have more chances of breaking world records in the August Olympics.
"Most athletes who are coming to Beijing are satisfied with and have full confidence in the air quality, environment and sports facilities," Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi told a press conference on the sidelines of the annual session of the parliament.
Yang said that many athletes have broken world records in China, especially in Beijing, suggesting that it is unnecessary for athletes to worry about the air quality in Beijing.
"If they (foreign athletes) cannot break world records in other places, maybe they can come to Beijing, where they will have a better luck," he said.
"I believe the air quality in Beijing will only become better and better," he added.
A high-ranking environment official said Tuesday that China is able to ensure good air quality during the Olympic Games, fulfilling its commitment made seven years ago for the Olympic bid.
Chinese environment authorities are keeping a close watch over major pollution indices everyday, including sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide and particulate matters, said Zhang Lijun, deputy head of the State Environmental Protection Administration.
"Three indices have met national standards due to years of efforts, and we promise the index of particulate matters will also meet standards during the Olympics," he told reporters on the sidelines of the annual session of parliament.
Beijing has put 120 billion yuan (16.9 billion U.S. dollars) in improving air quality in the past years, and the number of "blue sky" days, or days with fairly good air quality, increased to 246 last year from 100 in 1998, he said.
Meanwhile, Beijing's neighboring municipality Tianjin, the provinces of Hebei, Shanxi and Shandong, and the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region are lending a hand to the capital to attain anti-pollution goals, Zhang said.
Work in these areas includes closing major polluters, removing outmoded cabs and reconditioning gas stations to capture harmful chemicals.
(Xinhua News Agency March 12, 2008)