Yellow River Basin sees improved ecological environment

China has been making significant strides in enhancing the ecological environment of the Yellow River Basin, as the country implements the Yellow River Protection Law, according to Li Hongzhong, vice-chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee.

Li made the remarks as he reported to a session of the committee, the country's top legislature, on Sunday.

The Yellow River, the country's second longest, has seen quality in its trunk reach Grade II for two straight years, he said.

China has a five-tier quality system for surface water, with Grade I being the best.

The vegetation coverage in 84.9 percent of the basin's areas has been showing an upward trend, he said. Moreover, over the last 20 years, the vegetation "green line" in the basin has shifted westward by around 300 kilometers.

In 2023, the nine provincial regions along the Yellow River completed afforestation of 1.7 million hectares, he continued. About 16,000 square kilometers of areas plagued by water loss and soil erosion were effectively treated.

Li also highlighted remarkable progresses in pollution control and water conservation in the basin.

In a campaign that targeted violations concerning solid waste, for instance, about 118 million metric tons of trash were cleared from 4,084 locations, he said.

Compared to 2018, water consumption per unit of GDP and per unit of industrial value added in the nine provincial regions in the basin in 2023 decreased by 22.8 percent and 40.9 percent, respectively, he noted.

Adopted in October 2022, the Yellow River Protection Law took effect on April 1, 2023.