Xinhua News Agency:

As one of the provinces in the Yangtze River Economic Belt, how can Jiangxi better serve and promote high-quality development within the region? Thank you.

Ye Jianchun:

Thank you to the journalist from Xinhua News Agency for your question. I will answer it. If the Yangtze River were likened to a giant dragon, Jiangxi would be situated at the midsection of its body. Jiangxi has a 151.9-kilometer stretch of prime Yangtze River shoreline. On average, nearly 150 billion cubic meters of water flow annually from the Ganjiang, Fu, Xin, Rao and Xiu rivers into Poyang Lake, and after regulation by the lake, this water contributes approximately 15% of the Yangtze River's total volume. Under the country's strictest water resources management system, Jiangxi's annual water usage is capped at 26.463 billion cubic meters until 2030. To put this in perspective, this figure represents only 16.9% of the total water Jiangxi channels into the Yangtze River. Jiangxi has made significant contributions in supplying premium water resources to the Yangtze River.

I understand that Jiangxi needs to fully shoulder the responsibility and mission of promoting the development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt. This involves not only protecting the ecological environment but also advancing the green transformation and development of the economy. On the one hand, we will unwaveringly adhere to the principle of coordinated efforts for overall protection, avoiding excessive development, and putting more effort into high-level protection. Our goal is to ensure that clean water from lakes flows into the river and clean water from the river flows eastward. We have already made significant progress in this area, and moving forward, we will strive to do even better. On the other hand, we will accelerate the comprehensive green transformation of economic and social development and strive for excellence in serving and integrating into the high-quality development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt. Our efforts will focus on three aspects:

First, we will focus on promoting the high-end, intelligent, and green development of industries. Since the reform and opening-up, Jiangxi has had a significant presence of traditional industries such as petrochemicals, steel, and textiles along the river. In recent years, we have adhered to innovation-driven development and technological empowerment, accelerating the optimization and upgrading of industrial and energy structures along the river. Sinopec Jiujiang Company, located on the banks of the Yangtze River, has made significant strides through technological upgrades, ensuring not a single drop of oil or wastewater enters into the river. It has become the first intelligent manufacturing demonstration and benchmark enterprise in the petrochemical industry nationwide. We will integrate high-end, intelligent, and green elements throughout the entire process of upgrading traditional industries, nurturing and strengthening emerging industries, and strategically planning future industries. We will vigorously promote the digital transformation and green transformation of industries along the river, accelerating the cultivation of new drivers of green growth.

Second, we will focus on deepening regional coordination and synergy. In recent years, we have strengthened cooperation with provinces and cities along the Yangtze River. We have signed an action plan with Hubei and Hunan to promote high-quality development in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River. We are actively aligning with and integrating into the development of the Yangtze River Delta. We will build Jiujiang into a key nodal city on the Yangtze River Economic Belt to high standards, and to promote Nanchang and Jiujiang as national strategic hubs for modern logistics. We will leverage the innovative resources of the Yangtze River Delta to advance industrial upgrading in Jiangxi. Additionally, we will better advance ecological environment governance, infrastructure development, investment and trade integration, and the sharing of public services.

Third, we are committed to promoting the culture of the Yangtze River. Visitors to the Yangtze River National Cultural Park in Jiangxi can revisit the creative journey of Bai Juyi's "Pipa Xing" at the Pipa Pavilion, trace Su Shi's inspiration for "Record of Stone Bell Mountain" at its very source, Stone Bell Mountain, and experience the flourishing history of the millennium-old White Deer Grotto Academy. These experiences allow you to immerse yourself in Jiangxi's extensive and profound cultural legacy. We will enhance the protection of cultural relics and heritage along the Yangtze River, delve into the essence and contemporary significance of Yangtze River culture, and fully showcase the unique charm of Jiangxi's historical and cultural depth. Thank you.