Beijing exhorts citizens to cultivate courtesy for APEC

Beijing on Tuesday launched a campaign to promote civilization and courtesy among its residents in an effort to show the "Beijing spirit" to international guests who will be attending an influential summit later this year.

The campaign, entitled "Embracing APEC as Wonderful Beijingers," aims to promote good behavior. This includes following traffic rules, volunteering and keeping the city clean.

Other behavior due for censure includes "making a racket," smoking in public places and eating while on public transport.

The Beijing municipal government said in a statement that it aims to demonstrate Beijingers' passion, openness and kindness to visitors.

The campaign will center on making a clean city environment, decent order and friendly resident image.

Beijing will hold the 2014 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in November at Yanqi Lake, a scenic site in northwestern Beijing, and welcome leaders from more than 20 countries and economies.

The civilization campaign is similar to that before the 2008 Beijing Olympics, when the capital spent significant efforts in cleaning its sky and beautifying the streets, as well as targeting improper behavior, including littering, drunk driving and jaywalking.

Severe air pollution that has been haunting the capital in recent years has triggered public concerns that it will hamper Beijing's image in hosting major international events.

Zhao Huimin, director general of the Foreign Affairs Office of Beijing's municipal government, said in October last year that the city has become more experienced in curbing air pollution compared with 2008.

Zhao said that construction work at the summit site will follow environmentally-friendly principles. The venues will be using 100 percent clean energy, with all sewage and household waste processed.

However, Beijing is also facing greater environmental pressure due to an increased number of vehicles and industrial plants.

Residents will also be encouraged to participate in Beijing's smog control efforts by taking part in a "blue day action," which includes taking public transport and buying "green" products.