2nd LD: President Xi to give iron hand to polluters

President Xi Jinping vowed here Friday to give an iron hand to any polluters in the smog-choked country.

"We are going to punish, with an iron hand, any violators who destroy ecology or environment, with no exceptions," said Xi, while reviewing the work report of the State Council together with National People's Congress (NPC) deputies from Jiangxi Province.

He asked the Chinese to protect ecology and environment like to "care one's own eyes and life," showing his resolve to curb widespread pollution that is choking the world's second largest economy.

"Protecting environment is ensuring livelihood," Xi said.

His remarks echoed China's government work report that has demonstrated the determination of the world's most populous country to cut pollution.

"Environmental pollution is a blight on people's quality of life and a trouble that weighs on their hearts," it said. "We must fight it with all our might."

The report also said that the world's biggest emitter will cut the intensity of carbon dioxide by at least 3.1 percent this year.

Soil, water and air pollution have remained hot topics at China's annual sessions of the top legislature and political advisory body.

China declared a "war against pollution" last year, calling for tougher regulations over polluting industries.

"Problems such as administration loopholes, weak public awareness and lack of supervision still exist," said Qin Dahe, an academic with the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

He suggested long-term planning with a focus on the promotion of green techniques.

Talking with the Jiangxi deputies, Xi also pledged to advance the battle against corruption and governing of the Communist Party of China (CPC), urging to pluck the "rotten trees, cure the sick trees and straighten the crooked trees."

Supervision over the officials, especially the CPC officials, should be strengthened, he said. Endi