Conserving ecology will be a “key task” during construction of the Xiongan New Area, according to China’s minister of environmental protection.

The new area, which is being built about 100 km southwest of Beijing in Hebei province’s Xiongxian, Rongcheng and Anxin counties, is aimed at easing population pressure on the capital.

At a recent conference attended by senior officials, Li Ganjie, the environment minister, said medium- and long-term plans to protect the counties’ natural resources should be drawn up as soon as possible.

“It’s a key task for us to protect the environment in Xiongan,” he said, adding that the ministry will appoint an panel of experts to advise on potential measures and policies.

The ministry will also aid the restoration of Baiyangdian Lake, a large wetland, and formulate an overall plan for the new area’s environmental protection, with increased scientific and technological support for combating air, water and soil pollution, he pledged.

When the new area was announced in April, one of the goals laid out was to create a “naturally scenic city with blue skies, fresh air and clean water”.