China has unveiled an action plan to protect and restore the Yangtze River as the country pushes forward environmental protection.
Water quality of more than 85 percent of Yangtze River segments should reach Level III standard or above by the end of 2020, according to the plan released jointly by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment or MEE and National Development and Reform Commission.
It also said more than 90 percent of "black and odorous" water bodies in cities at or above prefecture level in the Yangtze River economic belt should be eliminated by the end of 2020.
Regions along the river in 11 provinces and municipalities are set as key areas, the plan said.
It also listed eight major tasks on Yangtze River protection including strengthening industrial, agricultural and shipping pollution treatment, ensuring safety of drinking water source quality and cracking down on ecological destruction.
The protection and renovation of the Yangtze River, the country's longest waterway, should combine water pollution treatment, water ecology restoration and water resources protection, the MEE said.
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.
（source：ourjiangsu.com）
