Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli (2nd L) learns about research progress at the State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment (SKLECRA) of the Chinese Research Academy of environmental Sciences (CRAES) in Beijing, capital of China, June 5, 2014. Zhang Gaoli inspected CRAES and China National Environmental Monitoring Center (CNEMC) on Thursday, which is also the World Environment Day. (Xinhua/Li Tao)

Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli called for greater efforts to tackle environmental pollution on Thursday, which is also the World Environment Day.

"China will strive to cultivate the environmental protection industry into a new economic growth point," Zhang said at a seminar with environmental scientists.

The country will accelerate industrial upgrading and further reduce excessive production capacity to improve the environment, said the vice premier.

He said China faces an arduous task in addressing environmental deterioration.

An action plan to fight against air pollution is in place, but more efforts are needed to effectively implement it, he said.

Work in drafting action plans to fight against water and soil pollution will be stepped up, said the vice premier.

He also visited several state laboratories on environmental research on Thursday and told technicians to ensure accuracy in statistics.