China moves to ensure clean air for military parade

BEIJING - China on Monday unveiled temporary measures to guarantee clean air for the Sept 3 military parade commemorating the end of World War II.

At a meeting held on Monday to coordinate efforts for clean air in Beijing, Environment Minister Chen Jining said clean air was integral to the success of the parade, as it would showcase the good image of the national capital.

Beijing and Hebei, Tianjin, Shanxi, Inner Mongolia, Shandong and Henan will implement temporary controls on industry, power plants and construction between Aug. 28 and Sept. 4, said Zhang Gong, vice mayor of Beijing.

Some coal-fired power plants will be shut down for maintenance, more than 10,000 factories will close or reduce production, and construction at nearly 9,000 sites will be halted, according to Zhang.

Beijing's private cars will be banned from road every the other day from Aug. 20 to Sept. 3, according to their plate number. Eighty percent of the government cars will also be locked off.

Zhang, who also head of the general office of a coordination team on tackling air pollution in Beijing and surrounding regions, said the efforts will help reduce emission of major air pollutants by 40 percent in Beijing and 30 percent in other regions.

China has scheduled a series of events to mark the 70th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, culminating in a military parade on Sept. 3 in Beijing.

The parade will feature domestic and foreign troops, and China's latest weaponry. Receptions and a gala will be held in Beijing to mark the occasion. Events will also be staged in other parts in China.

Sept 3 this year is a national holiday.