BEIJING — Chinese cities reported less PM2.5 pollution in the first 11 months of the year, thanks to government’s efforts to control air pollution.

The average density of PM2.5 in 338 cities dropped by 8.3 percent year on year in the Jan-Nov period, Minister of Environmental Protection Chen Jining said at the annual meeting of the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development (CCICED) on Dec 8.

Meanwhile, days with good air quality rose 2.6 percent from a year ago, according to Chen, who is also the CCICED’s executive vice chair.

Chen attributed the amelioration to the country’s improving energy and industry structures, but called for continued efforts as the ecological progress still lags behind economic growth.

The ministry on Dec 8 issued an alert for moderate to heavy smog in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region till the end of the weekend due to unfavorable weather conditions.

Established in 1992, the CCICED is a high-level nonprofit international advisory body composed of Chinese and international experts in the field of environmental protection.