Beijing vice and acting mayor Guo Jinlong on Sunday vowed to accomplish the preparations for the upcoming Olympic Games to a "high level", partly by addressing the concerns on traffic jams and pollution.

He put the preparations on the top of the municipal government's agenda for the year, saying "(We must) accomplish the preparations for the Olympic Games and provide services in high-level and high-caliber ways."

Guo made the remarks while delivering a government work report to about 770 deputies to the city's legislative body that kicked off its annual session on Sunday morning.

"Hosting the 2008 Olympic Games and Paralympics is a great event for the country, the people and the Chinese nation," Guo said.

He urged the National Stadium, nick-named the "Bird's Nest" due to the shape, and other venues and facilities to conclude construction according to schedule.

The expansion of the Beijing international airport and the Beijing South Railway would be completed this year, plus the construction of a subway linking the airport to the downtown and several other subways and expressways, according to the official.

Guo said Beijing would enact the "strictest standards" for pollutant emission this year and curb the pollution by heavy trucks that work at night.

Beijing would also cooperate with neighboring provinces and cities in improving environment conditions.

However, he admitted that "the task to control pollution and traffic congestion is still arduous."

The government needed to provide better public services and improve the management of the city, he said.

(Xinhua News Agency January 20, 2008)