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.
长江、黄河生态系统保护
长江、黄河是中华民族的摇篮，哺育了灿烂的中华文明。长江横跨东、中、西部三大经济区，以水为纽带，连接上下游、左右岸、干支流，形成经济社会大系统，是中国重要的战略水源地、生态宝库和重要的黄金水道，也是连接丝绸之路经济带和21世纪海上丝绸之路的重要通道。黄河流域横跨中国北方东中西三大地理阶梯，是连接青藏高原、黄土高原和华北平原的生态廊道，是中国重要的经济地带和核心文化保护传承区，也是多民族聚居地和打赢脱贫攻坚战的重要区域。推动长江经济带发展、黄河流域生态保护和高质量发展，是关系国家发展全局的重大战略，对实现中华民族伟大复兴和永续发展具有重大现实意义和深远历史影响。
中共十八大以来，习近平站在历史和全局的高度，从中华民族长远利益出发，亲自谋划、亲自部署、亲自推动长江经济带发展、黄河流域生态保护和高质量发展等国家重大战略。2016年1月、2018年4月、2020年11月，习近平分别在重庆、湖北武汉、江苏南京主持召开推动长江经济带发展座谈会、深入推动长江经济带发展座谈会、全面推动长江经济带发展座谈会并发表重要讲话。2019年9月，习近平主持召开黄河流域生态保护和高质量发展座谈会并发表重要讲话。2019年10月，中共十九届四中全会决定指出，要加强长江、黄河等大江大河生态保护和系统治理。2021年3月，“十四五”规划《纲要》提出，要加强长江、黄河等大江大河和重要湖泊湿地生态保护治理。
长江、黄河生态系统保护就是要坚持绿水青山就是金山银山的理念，坚定不移走生态优先、绿色发展之路，坚持“共抓大保护、不搞大开发”“共同抓好大保护、协同推进大治理”，在发展中保护，在保护中发展，实现经济社会发展与人口、资源、环境相协调，使绿水青山产生巨大生态效益、经济效益、社会效益，使母亲河永葆生机活力。