Image Credit: Xinhua News Agency
Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged a major reform in the ecological conservation and high-quality development of the Yellow River basin. Speaking at a meeting in Lanzhou, Gansu Province, on Thursday, Xi, who also serves as general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, outlined a comprehensive plan to enhance ecological protection and drive sustainable growth across the region.
Xi emphasised the need for deeper and more extensive reforms to elevate ecological protection to new heights and advance green transformation. He highlighted the importance of improving the overall framework of ecological protection and collaboration within the basin to bolster national ecological security. To address pollution, Xi stressed the importance of managing critical tributaries, lakes, and reservoirs, as well as advancing ultra-low emissions technology and promoting the clean use of coal.
In his address, Xi called for the implementation of policies and standards to support green and low-carbon development, including fiscal, tax, investment, and pricing measures. He advocated for the development of a comprehensive, market-driven, and varied compensation system for ecological conservation across the basin. Furthermore, he underscored the need for the strictest water resource protection systems and an enhanced disaster prevention and reduction framework, particularly focusing on major water conservancy projects and infrastructure safety.
The president’s remarks underscore a strategic push towards integrating ecological and economic goals, reflecting a broader commitment to sustainable development and environmental stewardship in one of China’s most vital river basins.