Wu Zhenglong, governor of Jiangsu, stressed ecology and "green development" in boosting the growth of the Yangtze River Economic Belt.He made the remarks Wednesday when presiding over a meeting of the provincial leading group for the promotion of development along the Yangtze River.
Wu Zhenglong pointed out that the implementation of the Yangtze River Economic Belt development strategy released by the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core by adapting to the new normal of economic development, planning a new game for the Chinese economy, and making a major decision-making arrangement for the present and benefiting the future.
This year is a crucial year for implementing the General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important speech on promoting the development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt and also an important year for laying the foundation for the protection and restoration of the Yangtze River and for promoting the high-quality development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt in the province, the Governor said.
It is necessary to thoroughly study and implement the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important speech, effectively enhance political stance, insist on putting the restoration of the Yangtze River ecological environment in an overwhelming position, adhere to ecological priority and green development so as to demonstrate Jiangsu’s role and contribution to the promotion of the high-quality development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt, according to the Governor.
Wu Zhenglong emphasized that it is necessary to thoroughly implement the new development concept and make every effort to promote the high-quality development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt, adhere to the problem-orientation, resolutely rectify and put in place the problems, promote the treatment of sewages in towns along the Yangtze River and rein in chemical pollution, agricultural non-point source pollution, ship pollution and tailings pollution.
It is a key strategy for the province to boost growth in the Yangtze River Economic Belt, while much has been done in river course renovation, use of water resources, and control and treatment of water pollution, he said.
He urged the province to adjust and optimize the industrial structure, especially to promote the optimization of the layout, transformation and upgrading of chemical steel, coal, power and other industries, so that the production space is made intensive, the living space is made moderate, and the ecological space is made beautiful.
Chinese President Xi Jinping said that environmental recovery must be the project's top priority so the Yangtze River Economic Belt can develop into a golden belt with beautiful scenery and smooth traffic last April when presiding over a meeting to push the development of the economic belt in Wuhan, capital of Hubei province.
Pushing development of the economic belt is a significant decision made by the CPC Central Committee and is important for the overall picture of the country's development, Xi said.
The economic belt covers 11 provinces and municipalities, including Hubei, Hunan, Shanghai and Chongqing, and is home to about 40 percent of the country's population and GDP.
The president said joint efforts are needed to protect the environment of the Yangtze River and he opposes over-exploitation of the river.
The environment must be made the top priority in developing the economic belt, Xi said, adding that great attention must be paid to the work of ecological recovery and environmental protection.
Protecting the environment does not conflict with economic development, Xi said, adding that whether the environment could be protected or not is decided by the economic structure and development mode.
Noting that developing the Yangtze River Economic Belt is a systematic project that needs long-term efforts, Xi required the relevant departments to make a clear road map and timetable to fulfill the goal.
（source：ourjiangsu.com）
