China's National Development and Reform Commission has announced that the price of gasoline and diesel will be raised along with upgrades to fuel quality, in order to curb the country's air pollution.

The country's top economic planning body said that in the next two years, prices for gasoline and diesel that meet the national "fourth-phase" standard will be raised by 290 yuan and 370 yuan per ton respectively. Under the country's timetable for fuel quality upgrades, gasoline should meet the "fourth-phase" standard by the start of 2014 and motor diesel a year after. Both gasoline and diesel should meet the "fifth-phase" standard by the start of 2018.

China has announced stricter motor fuel standards in a bid to reduce harmful emissions after smog blanketed much of the country at the beginning of the year.