Photo: China Youth Daily

On the opening day of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), Beijing's PM2.5 concentration was 1 microgram per cubic meter, a new record low, an official said Tuesday afternoon in the first group interview press conference of the 20th CPC National Congress.

Beijing's average daily PM2.5 concentration has dropped to 29 micrograms per cubic meter, according to Beijing environmental protection delegates.

“We have confidence in making Beijing’s blue sky part of people’s daily routine,” said Zhao Lei, Standing Committee member and secretary of Beijing Municipal Party Committee.

Zhao said Beijing was “the first megacity in China to propose reduction in the process of development. For non-renewable factors of production, we should decisively make reductions. We should not take up too many land resources for economic growth.”

In the last few years, Beijing reduced land earmarked for construction by 110 square kilometers, he said, and the population density of central Beijing decreased 9.5 percent in 2021 compared to 2012.

“The resident population in downtown Beijing and construction density will also be reduced to highlight Beijing’s functions as China’s capital,” he said.

(Compiled by Zhu Yurou and Zhan Zinan)