China's Ministry of Environmental Protection has urged stepping up efforts to address pollution in north China's Haihe River.

Speaking at a meeting on the issue Friday, minister of environmental protection Zhou Shengxian ordered making "unremitting" efforts to relieve the "pain of the Haihe."

Zhou also called upon government departments to strictly follow various industrial policies on environmental protection, with the focus on construction projects featuring high water costs and pollutant discharge and projects located along rivers or on the upriver area of drinking water sources.

While stressing the protection of drinking water and the control of pollution, Zhou also encouraged adopting more "ecological methods" in sewage treatment and the rehabilitation of lakes and rivers.

Zhou urged Beijing, Tianjin and other developed regions to be pioneers in upgrading sewage treatment technology and transforming sewage into resources.