Chinese Vice Premier Han Zheng, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, presides over a symposium on the use of clean energy for winter heating in the country's northern region held during his research trip to Shijiazhuang, capital of north China's Hebei Province, Oct. 17, 2018. (Xinhua/Yan Yan)

SHIJIAZHUANG, Oct. 18 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Han Zheng on Wednesday stressed the use of clean energy for winter heating in the country's northern region.

Han, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks at a symposium held during his research trip to Shijiazhuang, capital of north China's Hebei Province.

China should ensure that people in north China will be kept warm and safe in winter while at the same time making progress in improving air quality, Han said.

To clear up the air, China has been encouraging the use of natural gas and electricity instead of coal for winter heating.

Authorities must make sure of the source of natural gas before taking down old heating facilities, Han said, adding that efforts should be made to increase the natural gas supply.

After decades of rapid development that left the country with a thick, gray haze, China declared a war against pollution, with intensified efforts to crack down on polluters and incentives for clean energy use.

By the end of October 2018, a total of 3.62 million additional households in Beijing, Tianjin and 26 other cities in nearby regions will have had their coal-fired heating systems converted, according to an official plan released earlier this year.