国内英语新闻:China's top legislator stresses soil protection

BEIJING, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislator Li Zhanshu has stressed efforts to promote the effective implementation of the law on soil pollution prevention and control in all areas.

Li, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, made the comments during a law enforcement inspection in Jiangsu and Shandong provinces from Sunday to Wednesday.

During a meeting with experts, Li called for efforts to focus on pollution prevention, as the treatment and purification of polluted soil are difficult, time-consuming and costly.

Strong measures are required to prevent worsening pollution, and new pollution must be stopped, Li noted, stressing more efforts to make plans to protect unpolluted soil.

While presiding over a symposium, Li said soil pollution should be prevented in accordance with the law. He was briefed on the current situation and heard suggestions from lawmakers at the symposium.