OFFICIAL data showed a steady improvement in China’s air and water quality in the first half of this year, as the country continues to battle pollution and pursue green development.

According to the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, from January to June, the average density of PM2.5 in 339 Chinese cities stood at 33 micrograms per cubic meter, down 2.9% year on year.

The proportion of days with good air quality in these cities was 82.8%, up 1.4% from the same period last year.

The ministry’s data also showed that 88.8% of monitored sections had “fairly good” surface water quality — at or above Grade III in the country’s five-tier water quality system, up 1% year on year.

The share of surface water below Grade V, the lowest level, stood at 0.8%, down 0.2% from a year earlier.

China has steadfastly advanced its “Beautiful China” initiative, emphasizing ecological and environmental protection as a top priority in its social and economic development.

During the third plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, Chinese leadership pledged to “prioritize ecological protection, conserve resources and use them efficiently, and pursue green and low-carbon development.” (Xinhua)