President Xi to give iron hand to polluters

Chinese President Xi Jinping (front, 2nd R), also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, reviews the work report of the State Council together with National People's Congress (NPC) deputies from Jiangxi Province during the third session of the 12th NPC, in Beijing, capital of China, March 6, 2015. (Xinhua/Lan Hongguang)

President Xi Jinping vowed on Friday to give an iron hand to any polluters in the smog-choked country.[Special coverage]

"We are going to punish, with an iron hand, any violators who destroy ecology or environment, with no exceptions," said Xi, while reviewing the work report of the State Council together with National People's Congress (NPC) deputies from Jiangxi Province.

He asked the Chinese to protect ecology and environment like to "care one's own eyes and life," showing his resolve to curb widespread pollution that the world's second largest economy is battling.

"Protecting environment is ensuring livelihood," Xi said.

His remarks echoed the work report that has demonstrated the determination of the world's most populous country to cut pollution.

"Environmental pollution is a blight on people's quality of life and a trouble that weighs on their hearts," it said. "We must fight it with all our might."

The report also said that the world's biggest emitter will cut the intensity of carbon dioxide by at least 3.1 percent this year.

Soil, water and air pollution have remained hot topics at China's annual sessions of the top legislature and political advisory body.

China declared a "war against pollution" last year, calling for tougher regulations over polluting industries.

"Problems such as administration loopholes, weak public awareness and lack of supervision still exist," said Qin Dahe, an academic with the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

He suggested long-term planning with a focus on the promotion of green techniques.

Talking with the Jiangxi deputies, Xi also pledged to advance the battle against corruption and governing of the Communist Party of China (CPC), urging to "pluck the rotten trees, cure the sick trees and straighten the crooked trees."

Supervision over the officials, especially the CPC officials, should be strengthened, he said.

Zhang Dejiang, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, joined discussion with deputies from the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions.

Talking with deputies from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), Zhang said that the CPC Central Committee sincerely hopes that the region can carry out the universal suffrage in the election of the HKSAR Chief Executive in 2017 according to the Hong Kong Basic Law and decisions made by the NPC Standing Committee.

That has been the CPC Central Committee's consistent stance on Hong Kong and also the expectations of the Hong Kong compatriots, he said.

Top political advisor Yu Zhengsheng urged to enhance the overall strength and competitiveness of the country's culture while joining the panel discussion with the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee members from the cultural and art sector.

Wang Qishan, head of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, called on to advance the anti-corruption battle and the building of CPC work style and a clean government.

He told NPC deputies from Fujian Province that supervision over officials and the accountability mechanism should be highlighted this year.