By Song Baleun and Kim Minji

President Moon Jae-in on Dec. 3 said he will strive to push forward joint efforts with China and Japan on resolving the problem of fine dust.

At a luncheon with members of the National Council on Climate and Air Quality (NCCA) and its civic participatory committee including NCCA Chairman Ban Ki-moon at Cheong Wa Dae, the president said, "Through the release last month of the results of a three-way joint study by Korea, China and Japan on fine dust, the effects of fine dust on the three nations were officially confirmed for the first time," adding, "This has opened the way for the Asian neighbors to formulate a joint response."

He added that his administration is accepting proposed measures from the council, saying, "The seasonal management system for fine dust to be effective from December to March, as the core of a policy proposed by the civic participatory committee, came into force on Dec. 1. We expect the season's fine dust concentration, which used to be high during the cited period, to be significantly reduced."

On International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies, which was officially adopted last month by the United Nations after being proposed by his administration, he said, "From now, with the designation of International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies on Sept. 7 every year, people of the world will more actively ponder the problem of air pollution and seek solutions."

"With Seoul to host in June next year the Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030 summit (P4G), we ask for more support from (the council) through brisker activity to bolster international cooperation in climate change, including the problem of fine dust."

brightsong@korea.kr