Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, chairs a symposium on ecological protection and high-quality development of the Yellow River basin in Jinan, east China's Shandong Province, Oct 22, 2021.Photo:Xinhua

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday urged for renewed effort on ecological protection and high-quality development of the Yellow River basin during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025).

Xi, the general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks while addressing a symposium in Jinan city, East China's Shandong Province.

Xi called for an unremitting effort to ensure that the Yellow River will always benefit the Chinese nation.

Despite some progress, there are still major problems and difficulties facing ecological conservation and high-quality development of the basin, Xi said, asking provincial-level regions along the Yellow River to put the environment first and be committed to green development.

Calling for a renewed focus on water management risks and the profound impacts brought by climate change, Xi said the capability to deal with disasters must be improved to better protect people's lives.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, chairs a symposium on ecological protection and high-quality development of the Yellow River basin in Jinan, east China's Shandong Province, Oct 22, 2021.Photo:Xinhua

Xi also underscored the importance of a stable supply of coal and electricity to ensure smooth economic and social order. He stressed the implementation of major tasks for promoting ecological conservation and high-quality development of the Yellow River basin during the 14th Five-Year Plan period.

Accelerated efforts should be made to put in place preventive measures against natural disasters, he said, while urging thoughtful utilization and careful management of water resources.

More targeted work should be done to control soil erosion and desertification in the upper and middle reaches of the Yellow River, and strengthen coordinated environmental overhaul of the lower reaches' waterways and flood plain, Xi said, adding that biodiversity in the river delta should be enhanced.

Although, major achievements have marked over recent years in addressing problems such as pollution and over-development of water resources in the Yellow River, the upper and middle reaches of the Yellow River still face severe pollution such as the reaches in the Fenhe river basin in North China's Shanxi Province and Weihe river basin in Northwest China's Shaanxi Province, due to resource exploitation and industrial manufacturing, Ma Jun, the director of the Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs, told the Global Times on Saturday.

The importance Xi and the central government attach to the Yellow River, would benefit the long-term and high-quality development of the river, Ma noted. 

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits the Agricultural High-tech Industrial Demonstration Area of the Yellow River Delta in the city of Dongying, east China's Shandong Province, Oct 21, 2021. After the visit, Xi on Friday chaired a symposium on ecological protection and high-quality development of the Yellow River basin in Jinan, east China's Shandong Province.Photo:Xinhua

Some regions of the Yellow River basin suffered rare flooding over recent months, Xi said, calling for effective measures in post-disaster reconstruction, and in particular, efforts to help the people in need.

Heavy rainfall and floods in early October impacted more than 1.76 million people in North China's Shanxi Province. As a coal hub in China with more than 670 mines scattered across the province, the floods also led to 60 mines in the province to suspend production, which has caused coal supply bottlenecks.

Extremely heavy rainfall also hit Central China's Henan Province, especially the capital Zhengzhou, affecting nearly 15 million people and leading to 133.7 billion yuan ($20.9 billion) economic loss. 

Countries around the world, including China, are facing the challenge of climate change. The management of the Yellow River should also be considered into China's "dual carbon" targets, according to Ma. Since September 2020, China announced to achieve "carbon peak" by 2030 and reach "carbon neutral" by 2060.

The Yellow River originates from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in west China, and runs through the Loess Plateau, flowing 5,464 km through nine provincial-level regions before meeting the Bohai Sea in eastern Shandong Province.

It is China's second-longest river, supplying water to 12 percent of China's population and irrigating 15 percent of the country's arable land.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, checks the growth of soybeans while visiting the Agricultural High-tech Industrial Demonstration Area of the Yellow River Delta in the city of Dongying, east China's Shandong Province, Oct 21, 2021. After the visit, Xi on Friday chaired a symposium on ecological protection and high-quality development of the Yellow River basin in Jinan, east China's Shandong Province.Photo:Xinhua

With China adopting ecological protection and high-quality development of the Yellow River basin as a major national strategy, the river is expected to play a crucial role in striking a balance between environmental protection and economic growth.

Deemed "the cradle of Chinese civilization," the Yellow River basin, one of the most important ecological barriers and economic zones within China, and has seen remarkable improvements in its ecological environment in recent years.

The country has built more than 400 wetland nature reserves and national parks in the river basin, according to the Xinhua News Agency.

Between 2012 and 2019, the country implemented two phases of flood control projects in the lower reaches of the waterway and completed the standard levee construction. The accumulated amount of silt and sand into the Yellow River has been reduced by nearly 30 billion tons.

In recent years, China has also made intensive efforts to restore the ecology in areas such as the Qilian and the Qinling mountains in the upper reaches of the Yellow River basin.