China bans new steel, coking, oil refining, cement and glass projects

In a policy document, the government said China would step up efforts to establish a zoning system to manage environmental risks and take action to reduce heavy industry in already polluted regions, river basins and urban areas. China will ban new steel, coking, oil refining, cement and glass projects in key zones, the government said on Friday.

China still has a long way to go before it can achieve its environmental goals, and needed new "synergies" that would allow it to cut air, water and soil pollution while tackling carbon dioxide emissions, the policy document said.