China has pushed 18 laws and regulations during the past five years to combat environmental issues, the National People's Congress (NPC), the country’s top legislative body, said during a press conference on Monday morning about its legislative work.

This represents about 18 percent of all legislative items formulated during the 12th NPC Standing Committee. Officials maintained that these rules were advanced to promote the construction of ecological civilization, and were contrived on the premises of protecting people’s basic rights and interests.

The need for a clean air and sanitary drinking water, strengthening the legal system for environmental protection, treatment of atmospheric pollution and water contamination and enforcement of stronger penalties on environmental violations have all been highlighted.

This year attention will be focused on problem solving, meaning legislation will tackle practical issues. Although the problem of smog still exists, efforts to fight it and reduce its severity in the past few years should also be noticeable.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang mentioned in the government’s work report last week that PM2.5 levels in some of the most heavily polluted areas were down by 30 percent since 2013. Air quality in Beijing and its surrounding regions including Tianjin Municipality and Hebei Province – 13 cities in total – has improved by about 40 percent in comparison with 2013 levels.

Lyu Caixia, member of the Environment Protection and Resources Conservation Committee, said that today's levels of PM2.5, harmful atmospheric particulate matter with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometers, stand at 130 μg/m³, lower than the 200 and 300 levels recorded in previous years.

China's measures have paid off, but there is still a long way to go in terms of fighting pollution and conserving the environment.

Amendments to laws concerning the environment, wildlife, oceans, atmosphere, water, nuclear safety and soil contamination were also formulated to ensure a more systematic and comprehensive network of pollution prevention.

The first session of the 13th National People's Congress is underway in Beijing and will conclude on March 20.