SHANGHAI, Dec. 16 (Xinhuanet) -- About 350,000 vehicles that do not meet the Euro I exhaust emissions standard will soon be banned from Shanghai's city center, a spokesperson of the city government has said.

    In its latest environment protection move, China's largest citywill clean up highly polluting vehicles from the downtown areas to reduce exhaust emission, said Jiao Yang, a spokesperson with the Shanghai Municipal People's Government at this week's press conference.

    During the forthcoming annual checkup, motor vehicles having met Euro I or higher standards will be given a pass that allows them to drive into the city center in the coming year. "Vehicles without such a pass will not be allowed on downtown roads, and if caught, the driver will be fined," Jiao said without elaborating.

    The spokesperson said the same rule will apply to local vehicles as well as vehicles from other parts of the country.

    Exhaust emission has become a main source of pollution in downtown Shanghai though the city imposes strict rules to limit the number of private cars.

    Shanghai, a city with 950,000 motor vehicles, adopted the Euro II exhaust emissions standard on March 1, 2003. New vehicles failing to meet the standard have been denied a number plate ever since.

    Environment protection specialists say as old vehicles are being phased out and stricter rules are applied, the pressure of the fast growing auto market on the city's environment will also be relieved. Enditem