China eases burden on ecologically fragile areas

BEIJING - China's central authorities have decided not to press local governments located in ecologically fragile areas to pursue economic growth regardless of environment deterioration.

A key reform roadmap released by the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee on Friday said governments of some ecologically fragile and poverty-stricken areas will be free from assessment of their economic performance.

China's central government traditionally assesses the performance of local authorities mainly through economic indices like gross domestic product (GDP).

Some local governments have sacrifices the local environment for better GDP figures, with weak supervision of polluters and less spending on environmental protection.

China will also register the ownership of rivers, forest, mountains, grassland, desert and beaches and put them under clear and effective supervision, said the CPC Central Committee's decision on issues concerning comprehensively deepening reforms, adopted by the Third Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee on Tuesday.

The country will try to make a balance sheet of natural resources with its own administrative division and officials audited on their performance when they leave the office, according to the decision.

China's environment authority will tighten up monitoring of all pollutants and tighten supervision.