Environmental protection top priority of Yangtze River

GREEN DEVELOPMENT

To better protect the environment along the Yangtze, administrative boundaries must be removed and the market should be given a bigger role, the official said.

A "negative list" will be rolled out across the economic belt, banning certain industries from the region.

Limits will be put on water and environmental pollution, the official underscored, which will clearly define acceptable levels of pollutants.

A cross-regional, inter-department emergency response system will be set up to handle environmental incidents, while compensation will be given to encourage local governments to preserve the environment.

China's top leaders have, on many occasions, said that environmental protection will play a large part in the development of the Yangtze River economic belt, noting that economic activity should not damage the environment.

GOLDEN WATERWAY

In addition to environmental protection, the official also unveiled other targets, including improving the river's traffic capacity, promoting innovation and industrial upgrading, boosting urbanization, advancing opening up and establishing a modern market economy.

The Yangtze will be developed into a "golden waterway" by 2030, with unhampered traffic flow on the river. A low-carbon, integrated transport system will connect roads, railways and air routes by 2020, said the official.

About 60 percent of the total freight volume on China's inland rivers travels along the Yangtze, which saw cargo traffic rise to 2.18 billion tonnes in 2015, up 45 percent from 2010, according to government data.

Waterway restoration will be conducted on the Yangtze and its tributaries to improve navigation of the waterway, the official said.

Ships will have to pass certain standards, construction of ports and wharfs will be strictly regulated, while port and shipping firms will be encouraged to merge or share resources along the river.