Ma Kai, Chairman, National Development and Reform Commission
March 19, 2006

With the implementation of the 11th Five-Year Plan, the inhabitation environment will be further bettered. The trend of ecological and environmental degradation will be curbed preliminarily, and the total emission volume of major pollutants will be reduced by 10%. In cities, 70% of wastewater and 60% of residential garbage will be treated. The forest coverage rate is expected to reach 20%. 100 million rural residents will be provided access to safe drinking water, and 1.2 million kilometers of rural roads will be newly built and upgraded. All towns and administrative villages that have the necessary conditions will have access to highways.