BEIJING -- China has issued a guideline on improving the sewage treatment charging mechanism to promote green development in the Yangtze River Economic Belt.

The move aims to use price leverage to improve the prevention and control of water pollution in the Yangtze River, according to the guideline that is jointly issued by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and four ministries.

Local authorities should carry out investigations into the cost of sewage treatment and improve the mechanism to adjust sewage treatment fees, it said, the NDRC said.

More should be done to cut the burden of sewage treatment enterprises and explore new ways to promote sewage collection efficiency, it added.