On Jan. 6, Minister Chen Jining moderated a news conference in Beijing at which he introduced the relevant developments on air pollution control and responded to the questions raised by the press.

The eighth General Assembly of Chinese Society of Environmental Sciences was held in Beijing. Vice Minister Huang Runqiu spoke at the assembly.

MEP held in Beijing the 2016 annual wrap-up meeting on nuclear and radiation safety regulation. Vice Minister Liu Hua spoke at the meeting.

On Jan. 9, MEP held a symposium in Beijing on the eco-environmental conservation in the Yangtze River economic belt. Minister Chen Jining spoke at the symposium which was chaired by Vice Minister Huang Runqiu. Leader of the Permanent Discipline Inspection Team Zhou Ying, Vice Minister Liu Hua, and the persons-in-charge with the 11 provinces (municipalities) seated in the Yangtze River economic belt attended the event.

Between Jan. 10 and 11, the 2017 National Working Conference on Environmental Protection was held in Beijing. A standing member of the Politburo and Premier of the State Council Li Keqiang made important instructions on the environmental protection work. Minister Chen Jining spoke at the conference that was chaired by Vice Minister Huang Runqiu. Leader of the Permanent Discipline Inspection Team Zhou Ying, Vice Ministers Zhai Qing, Zhao Yingmin, and Liu Hua, and some senior leaders attended the event. Leading officials with the relevant departments of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, the heads of the environmental protection departments/bureaus of the provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities, sub-provincial cities, the PLA, and Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, and heads of the Ministry’s internal departments, regional offices, and affiliated institutions also participated.

On Jan. 11, MEP printed and distributed the “Technical Policies on Prevention and Control of Pollution from Thermal Power Plants”.

On Jan. 12, MEP held the 2017 New Year’s greeting party for retired cadres in Beijing. Secretary of the Leading Party Group and Minister Chen Jining sent New Spring regards and blessings to the retired cadres and comrades. Vice Minister Zhai Qing moderated the Party. Leader of the Permanent Discipline Inspection Team Zhou Ying attended the event.

On the night, Minister Chen Jining chaired a thematic meeting to analyze and estimate the recent air pollution trends in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei and surrounding area and make response deployments.

On Jan. 16, Vice Minister Huang Runqiu went on an inspection tour to Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences and held a symposium.

Between Jan. 17 and 18, MEP held an academic workshop in Beijing on the analysis of the causes, the control and the trends of air pollution. Minister Chen Jining spoke at the workshop. Vice Minister Huang Runqiu, academicians with the consultation team of the joint research program on the air pollution control in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei area and other environmental specialists, as well as leading officials concerned from MEP and MOST attended the workshop.

On Jan. 19, MEP held the teleconference on improving the Party work style and building clean government among the national environmental protection branches. Chen Jining, Secretary of the Leading Party Group, Minister, and leader of the leading team for improving the Party work style and building clean government, and Zhou Ying, a leading Party member, Leader of the Permanent Discipline Inspection Team, and deputy leader of the leading team for improving the Party work style, spoke at the teleconference, which was chaired by a leading Party member and Vice Minister Zhai Qing. Vice Minister Huang Runqiu, a leading Party member and Vice Minister Zhao Yingmin attended the event. The officials of the Ministry’s internal departments, and the leadership of Beijing-based regional offices and affiliated institutions participated at the Ministry’s meeting hall. The heads of the environmental protection departments of local provinces (autonomous regions, municipalities), Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, and cities separately listed in the State plans participated at local venues.

On Jan. 22, MEP announced 63 projects that won the 2016 Environmental Protection Science and Technology Award.

On Jan. 23, MEP held the 2017 Spring Festival Greeting Party & commendation meeting. Secretary of the Leading Party Group and Minister Chen Jining delivered remarks to celebrate the New Spring. Vice Minister Zhao Yingmin chaired the meeting and announced the commendation notice. Leader of the Permanent Discipline Inspection Team Zhou Ying, Vice Minister Liu Hua, and some senior leaders attended the event. The entire staff of the Ministry’s internal departments, heads of the regional offices and affiliated institutions, and representatives of the retirees also participated.

Minister Chen Jining paid a visit to Comrade Qu Geping and Comrade Zhou Shengxian and sent regards and blessings on the upcoming festival.

Vice Minister Huang Runqiu went to Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Academy to inspect the latest developments in the research and manufacturing of the high resolution eight satellite (GF-8).

On Jan. 24, Minister Chen Jining sent Director General of the General Office Zhuang Guotai to take a trip to Changqing District of Jinan Municipality in Shandong Province, to express condolences to the families of Comrade Zhang Min who died in the line of duty.

On Jan. 25, Minister Chen Jining paid a visit to the frontline staff and sent New Year regards and blessings. Vice Minister Zhai Qing accompanied the visit.

On the night of Jan. 27, Minister Chen Jining paid a visit to China National Environmental Monitoring Center and Beijing Municipal Environmental Protection Monitoring Center, sent regards and New Spring blessings to the monitoring technicians who were still on their positions on the eve of the Festival, and consulted them on the air quality estimation and forecast of key regions across China and in Beijing.

On Jan. 31, Minister Chen Jining chaired a meeting to estimate and consult the air quality and make deployments to respond to the heavy air pollution.