China has been successful in fulfilling the targets set in the 13th five-year plan (2016-20) in air and water pollution control, and will resolutely move forward in its ecological progress in spite of the still grim situation, the minister of ecology and environment said on Sunday.

Li Ganjie made the comment when answering questions from reporters at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Sunday afternoon.

The country made a good beginning after it launched a pollution control campaign more than a year ago. The average density of PM2.5 particular matter in 338 major cities across the country went down by 9.3 percent year-on-year, Li said.

He said Beijing made even better progress in the blue sky protection campaign. The average PM 2.5 concentration in the capital decreased by 12.1 percent year-on-year in 2018 following a year-on-year drop of 20.5 percent in 2017.

The country also saw its water at or above Grade III, the third highest in a five-tier water quality system, up by 3.1 percent last year, and the water below Grade V, the lowest quality, down by 1.6 percent, he added.

The improvement has shown that China is moving ahead in the right direction in pollution control. But the situation remains grim and the country still faces many challenges in further promoting its ecological progress, Li noted, citing the ongoing haze in Beijing as an example.

As minister, Li said he feels a lot of pressure and stands uneasily every day.

He also stressed that China will carry on the fight against pollution resolutely and tirelessly.