(Photo/CGTN)
Smog has shrouded China's capital city again. Lawmakers are weighing in heavily on combating environmental threats as they discuss plans for creating a Ministry of Ecological Environment.[Special coverage]
Chen Xin has served as an NPC deputy for 16 years. During that time, he's witnessed the changing trends in the country's policies on ecological preservation.
Chen said that environmental protection is a global responsibility. Though still in its developing stage, China has paid great attention to environmental protection and shouldered due responsibility, as one of the biggest countries in the world.
According to a reform plan submitted to the national legislature, China will establish a Ministry of Ecological Environment to enhance the protection of its ecosystems. The new ministry will be responsible for compiling and implementing China's ecological environment policies, plans and standards, as well as monitoring and law enforcement.
It will also regulate pollution control, as well as nuclear and radiation safety. Another task will be organizing inspections of central authorities on environmental protection.
Chen believes that the government can put all the resources together through the reform and work with more efficiency so that China can unify the environmental monitoring, inspection and law enforcement system.
As a four-term NPC deputy and a well-known cardiologist, Chen pays special attention to people's health. In his opinion, President Xi Jinping's philosophy for green development is changing the country.
"Lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets."
This phrase has been used many times by President Xi Jinping, both inside and outside China, to attach importance to environmental protection and green development.
In 2015, China introduced action plans to fight air, water and soil pollution. In addition, it rolled out its harshest-ever environmental protection law.
Now, with both institutional reforms and legislation, China's fight against pollution is well underway.
