The Suzhou Meteorological Observatory and the Suzhou City Environmental Monitoring Center have jointly formulated environmental air quality monitoring and early warning work plan and fully implemented safeguard measures. In support of this, the 20th Tripartite Environmental Ministers meeting among China, Japan and South Korea was held in Suzhou, Jiangsu from June 24 to 25. The meeting brought out the fourth environmental protection inspectorate which aroused much concern from Jiangsu government. By June 19, 442 companies were punished for violation of environmental protection regulations.
The environmental protection treatment in Jiangsu affected polyester industry and its downstream market. The downstream water-jet looms in Wujiang had to strictly limit production, especially in Shengze, dyeing plants were forced to curtail production too. In Changshu, the operating rate of dyeing plants was forced to decline by 20 per cent, while the dyeing plants in Jiangyin were asked to shut down for correction temporarily.
