SHIJIAZHUANG, May 27 -- The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, has sent a team to north China's Hebei Province to inspect the implementation of the Air Pollution Control Law.

Shen Yueyue, vice chairwoman of the NPC Standing Committee and head of the inspection team, stressed that the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and surroundings are a key area in air pollution control.

While noting that Hebei is a region of "strategic importance" in the battle against air pollution to protect blue skies, Shen also pointed out that the industrial structure of the province was on the heavy side, and air pollution prevention and control would face "huge pressure and challenges" for a long time.

She called on relevant authorities and officials to make greater efforts in implementing the Air Pollution Control Law and carry out pollution control work in a legal, targeted and scientific manner.