Beijing residents urged to cook environmentally

Beijing residents are urged by authorities to participate in the city's air pollution control plan as smoke from their kitchens contributes a lot to the problem.

Zhao Huimin, director of Beijing Foreign Affairs Office, made the remarks at a news conference in Indonesia on Wednesday.

As Beijing's urban area increases, cooking by residents contributes a large proportion of the city's PM2.5 pollution, Zhao said.

Yanqi Lake, a scenic spot in Beijing's northern Huairou district, has been selected as the venue for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit next year.

As the host city, Beijing will use the opportunity to improve its air quality and is intensifying efforts as part of the summit preparations.

In September, the capital unveiled its 2013-17 air pollution control plan, which echoes the national air pollution prevention program.