Xi Jinping calls for innovation in ecological conservation, high-quality development of Yellow River Basin

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivers an important speech at a meeting on ecological conservation and high-quality development of the Yellow River Basin in Lanzhou, northwest China's Gansu Province, Sept. 12, 2024. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

LANZHOU, Sept. 12 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday called for innovation in ecological conservation and high-quality development of the Yellow River Basin.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks at a meeting in Lanzhou, capital of northwest China's Gansu Province.

Xi said efforts in this regard should be supported by further deepening reform as a whole.

He called for promoting ecological protection in the entire river basin to a new level, achieving new progress in green transformation and bringing new improvements to people's lives.

It is necessary to continuously improve the holistic framework of ecological protection and collaboration in the Yellow River Basin to strengthen national ecological security shields, Xi said.

Xi Jinping called for continued efforts to step up pollution control, with emphasis on managing major tributaries and key lakes and reservoirs.

He stressed the importance of accelerating ultra-low emission upgrades in key sectors and vigorously promoting the clean and efficient use of coal.

Efforts should be made to implement fiscal, investment and pricing policies and standards to support green and low-carbon development, he added.

Xi Jinping called for efforts to explore the establishment of a diversified, market-based and basin-wide compensation mechanism for ecological conservation.

He stressed that the strictest system of protection and use of water resources should be implemented.

Xi stressed the need to improve the disaster prevention and reduction system. He said the water regulation system centered on major water conservancy projects, such as key reservoirs, should be improved.

He highlighted efforts to ensure the safety of dikes, reservoirs and other important infrastructure projects.

Xi called for efforts to develop a green and low-carbon economy and accelerate the substitution of clean energy for fossil fuels in key industries.

Xi stressed the need to comprehensively deepen reform and expand opening-up, calling on local regions to actively participate in building a unified national market and resolutely eliminate all forms of local protectionism.

Efforts should be made to deepen reform related to state-owned assets and state-owned enterprises, and fully implement policies and measures to promote the development of the private economy, Xi stressed.

The country should coordinate efforts for new urbanization and rural revitalization, Xi said.

Employment should occupy an important position, Xi said, adding that increasing employment capacity should be a priority in urban industrial development and rural industrial cultivation.

Efforts should be made to protect and promote the Yellow River culture, strengthen the comprehensive and systemic protection of cultural and natural heritage, and further advance archaeological work, Xi stressed.

Party committees and governments of provinces and regions along the Yellow River should shoulder major responsibilities, and people from all sectors of society should be motivated, Xi said.

He also called for ensuring solid economic work at the end of the third quarter and throughout the last quarter, and striving to achieve the annual economic and social development goals.

Cai Qi, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee, and Ding Xuexiang, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Chinese vice premier, attended the meeting.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivers an important speech at a meeting on ecological conservation and high-quality development of the Yellow River Basin in Lanzhou, northwest China's Gansu Province, Sept. 12, 2024. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)