BEIJING, China » A senior China environmental official says the country’s pollution situation "remains very serious" as its fast-paced economic growth brings problems.

Vice minister for environmental protection Zhang Lijun says China has made progress on environmental protection but the country’s overall situation is still "very serious."

Zhang says that emissions of traditional pollutants remain high and some areas have failed to meet government targets. He was speaking Saturday on the sidelines of the National People’s Congress.

He also says that rapid urbanization in the next five years will underscore the need for China to improve environmental protection and shift to a more sustainable model of economic development.