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)