Vice Minister Zhai Qing headed for Cangzhou Municipality of Hebei Province in North China on a field inspection between Apr. 7 and 8 to check the local coordination and support for the upcoming year-long air pollution inspection, in order to make sure the inspection goes well.

After he arrived at Cangzhou on the night of Apr. 7, Zhai went nonstop to the seat of the No.7 inspection team, paid a visit to the eight inspectors, and checked their work conditions and accommodations. Also, he had talks with the inspection team, the heads of the Cangzhou municipal Party committee and government, and leading officials concerned from the provincial environmental protection department, got information on the stationing of the team and the preparations made so far for the upcoming inspection, and checked the progress made in implementing the coordination and support mechanisms on the list.

Zhai stressed that in order to implement the decisions and deployments of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, and work faster to address the pressing environmental problems, the inspection teams and the target cities should raise their awareness, enhance mutual collaboration, and together do well in the air quality inspection. The target cities should take a serious attitude to assume the main responsibilities for local environmental protection, assist the inspectors, establish strong coordination and support mechanisms, provide specific contact persons, contact information, and work plans, unclog the communication and coordination channels, and help make sure the inspection goes well. The province/municipalities administering the target cities and the organizations the inspectors work for should also give support to the inspection, working out detailed measures for the accommodations, travelling, funds, and internal management, and providing necessities. The inspection teams should follow the inspection plans, strengthen the protocols and disciplines, and carry out the inspection tasks meticulously and discreetly.

It is learnt that by the night of Apr. 7, the 28 inspection teams tasked with the first round inspection had stationed in and reached out to the target cities, officially kicking off the year-long inspection. Hebei and Henan provincial environmental protection departments already worked out support measures for the action.

In his tour, Zhai also looked into the city’s pilot projects on the “hot spot grid” air pollution control mechanism and went on a field trip to Dongfangjunjing residential quarter for an inspection on such control.