China Shuts Down Factories during APEC

TEMPO.CO, Beijing – In preparation for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting in Beijing on November 7-11, 2014, Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli ordered a temporary shutdown of factories to ensure air quality during the meeting. 

“Ensuring air quality during APEC is the priority of priorities, although the task will be a tremendous pressure and challenge given dropping temperatures and the start of the coal burning season in northern China,” said Zhang as reported by Reuters. 

Zhang also asked officials to restrict the number of vehicles crossing the main road and said residents should be encouraged to use public transportation during the meeting. 

“In an effort to ease traffic congestion and curb pollution, Beijing has already announced that public workers in the capital will be given six days off during the APEC meeting,” an official told Xinhua. 

Officials that will attend the meeting come from various countries, including Australia, Canada, Brunei Darussalam, Chile, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Thailand, the United States and Vietnam. 

The APEC meeting this year will discuss APEC’s mission to reduce tariff and remove barriers in free trade process. 

RINDU P. HESTYA | REUTERS