Cutting emissions and curbing pollution are among the Beijing municipal government's agenda this year as part of preparations for the Olympics, the acting mayor said Sunday.

The city will complete preparations for the Games and provide top-level services, Guo Jinlong said.

Beijing's acting mayor Guo Jinlong delivers a government work report during the opening ceremony of 13th Beijing People's Congress in Beijing January 20, 2008. [Agencies]

"But the task of controlling pollution and traffic congestion is arduous," Guo said while delivering a government work report to about 770 deputies to the municipal people's congress that started its annual session Sunday morning.

In response, he said, Beijing will enact the "strictest standards" for pollutant emissions and curb pollution by heavy trucks that ply at night.

He promised that less coal will be burned in the city and cooperation with neighboring provinces and cities would be intensified to protect the environment.

The major goals set for 2008 in the government report include:

* Energy consumption per unit of gross domestic product (GDP) to fall 5 percent.

* Emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO2), a gauge of air pollution, to fall 4 percent, and chemical oxygen demand (COD), a key measure of water pollution, to drop by 10 percent.

* "Blue sky" days - or days with fairly good air quality - to account for 70 percent of the total this year, or about 256 days, 10 days more than last year.

Guo also pledged to improve traffic and ensure the smooth running of sport venues.

He said the expansion of the Beijing Capital International Airport and the Beijing South Railway Station will be completed this year, in addition to the construction of a subway linking the airport to the downtown areas.

He also said that construction of the National Stadium, or the Bird's Nest, and other venues and facilities would be completed on schedule.