China, South Korea to conduct joint research on air pollutants

China will strengthen its cooperation with South Korea on air pollution control by promoting joint research on long-distance transportation of air pollutants in Northeast Asia, Li Ganjie, minister of ecology and environment, told his South Korean counterpart in Beijing this week.

Li met with Cho Myung-rae, South Korea’s environment minister, on Tuesday.

He said environmental cooperation between the two countries has “harvested a series of achievements”, according to a news release issued by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment.

Speaking highly of an environmental cooperation center established in Beijing in June, Li said China is willing to further intensify its environmental cooperation with South Korea by making full use of the center to promote joint research on long-distance transportation of air pollutants in Northeast Asia to improve the region’s air quality.

Li also told Cho of the achievements China has made in improving air quality. China saw its average PM2.5 density decrease by 9.3 percent to 39 micrograms per cubic meter in 338 major cities last year, he said.

The two ministers also signed two agreements, one on the exchange of air quality forecast information and technologies, and the other on enhancing the operation of the environmental cooperation center.