Ecological Conservation of the Yangtze River and the Yellow River

The Yangtze and Yellow rivers are two great waterways; they are cradles of the Chinese nation and have fostered China's brilliant civilization.

The Yangtze River runs across southern China from west to east. It is the main artery of a huge economic and social system on its upper and lower reaches, on both banks, and along its trunk stream and tributaries. It is a strategic water source, ecological treasure house, and golden waterway. It is also an important channel that connects the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.

The Yellow River runs through the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the Loess Plateau and the North China Plain in northern China, and is an ecological corridor linking these three geographic terrains. The areas it traverses make up China's primary economic regions and core cultural protection zones. These are also the places where various ethnic groups live and have fought a successful battle against poverty.

The development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt and the ecological conservation and high-quality development of the Yellow River Basin are two major strategies of critical importance to China. They are of historic significance to the rejuvenation and sustainable development of the Chinese nation.

Respecting the long-term interests of the Chinese nation, Xi Jinping has since 2012 involved himself in national plans and strategies such as the development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt and the eco-conservation and quality development of the Yellow River Basin.

He has participated in different seminars in cities along the Yangtze River, and has also chaired a forum on the conservation and development of the Yellow River Basin.

At its fourth plenary session, the 19th CPC Central Committee in October 2019 emphasized the importance of the eco-environmental conservation and systematic improvement of major waterways like the Yangtze and Yellow rivers. Strengthening the eco-environmental protection and governance of the Yangtze River, the Yellow River, and other major rivers, as well as important lakes and wetlands, has also been written into the 14th Five-year Plan.

Protecting the ecosystems of these two rivers, China will act on the principle that lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets, and will prioritize ecological conservation and pursue green development. It will follow such guidelines as "promoting well-coordinated conservation and avoiding excessive development" and "making comprehensive plans and joint efforts to protect the ecosystem."

Development and protection should go hand in hand, to balance economic and social development with population, resources and the environment, to give full play to the ecological, social and economic effects of nature, and to fill the two rivers with vigor and vitality.

長江、黃河生態系統保護

長江、黃河是中華民族的搖籃，哺育了燦爛的中華文明。長江橫跨東、中、西部三大經濟區，以水為紐帶，連接上下游、左右岸、干支流，形成經濟社會大系統，是中國重要的戰略水源地、生態寶庫和重要的黃金水道，也是連接絲綢之路經濟帶和21世紀海上絲綢之路的重要通道。黃河流域橫跨中國北方東中西三大地理階梯，是連接青藏高原、黃土高原和華北平原的生態廊道，是中國重要的經濟地帶和核心文化保護傳承區，也是多民族聚居地和打贏脫貧攻堅戰的重要區域。推動長江經濟帶發展、黃河流域生態保護和高質量發展，是關系國家發展全局的重大戰略，對實現中華民族偉大復興和永續發展具有重大現實意義和深遠歷史影響。

中共十八大以來，習近平站在歷史和全局的高度，從中華民族長遠利益出發，親自謀劃、親自部署、親自推動長江經濟帶發展、黃河流域生態保護和高質量發展等國家重大戰略。2016年1月、2018年4月、2020年11月，習近平分別在重慶、湖北武漢、江蘇南京主持召開推動長江經濟帶發展座談會、深入推動長江經濟帶發展座談會、全面推動長江經濟帶發展座談會并發表重要講話。2019年9月，習近平主持召開黃河流域生態保護和高質量發展座談會并發表重要講話。2019年10月，中共十九屆四中全會決定指出，要加強長江、黃河等大江大河生態保護和系統治理。2021年3月，“十四五”規劃《綱要》提出，要加強長江、黃河等大江大河和重要湖泊濕地生態保護治理。

長江、黃河生態系統保護就是要堅持綠水青山就是金山銀山的理念，堅定不移走生態優先、綠色發展之路，堅持“共抓大保護、不搞大開發”“共同抓好大保護、協同推進大治理”，在發展中保護，在保護中發展，實現經濟社會發展與人口、資源、環境相協調，使綠水青山產生巨大生態效益、經濟效益、社會效益，使母親河永葆生機活力。