China will advance the beautiful development of urban and rural rivers and lakes over the next 5 years

The State Council recently issued the "Beautiful China Construction '15th FiveYear Plan'", making clear that by 2030, the ecological and environmental governance system will be further improved, and a number of demonstration models for Beautiful China construction will be formed. The plan sets goals around key areas such as cities, rural areas, streets, rivers and lakes, bays, and shorelines. For example, over the next five years, it will raise the level of Beautiful City and Beautiful Countryside construction, advance the development of "zerowaste cities", improve public transportation and slowtraffic systems, and continuously enhance air quality and water environments. In rural areas and in the governance of water ecology, the plan proposes strengthening the treatment of domestic sewage, garbage, and black and odorous water bodies, and advancing soil pollution remediation and the comprehensive utilization of livestock and poultry waste; in rivers, lakes, and marine areas, it will continue to address sewage outfalls, restore wetlands and coastlines, and improve the water quality of nearshore waters and the level of marine ecological protection.