A team led by Shen Yueyue, vice-chairwoman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), inspected the enforcement of the Environmental Protection Law in Northwest China's Ningxia Hui autonomous region from March 28 to 31.

Shen said the inspection serves as a legal approach to consolidate anti-pollution achievements and also helps coordinate the two goals of pursuing high-quality growth and high-level environmental protection.

The team heard a report on the law enforcement by the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region People's Government and visited Yinchuan, Wuzhong, Guyuan and other cities during the inspection tour. In line with provisions of the law, the team inspected household waste sorting, ecological protection of the Yellow River, sewage treatment, and exhaust emission control at enterprises. They also held meetings with deputies to people's congresses at all levels, frontline workers, experts and scholars to listen to their opinions and suggestions. The team carried out random inspections as well.

Shen said China has seen historic and decisive changes to its ecological and environmental protection amid the enormous efforts on this front since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in 2012.

The law stipulates China's basic environmental protection principles and systems and underwent a major amendment in 2014 by the NPC Standing Committee, Shen noted, urging endeavors by governments at all levels and related sides to strictly fulfill their duties in accordance with the law. She also stressed stronger judicial efforts to combat environmental law violations.

Recognizing the progress made by Ningxia in faithfully enforcing the law and advancing ecological protection and high-quality development of the Yellow River basin, Shen also called for continued effortes in the anti-pollution campaign with scientific, targeted and law-based measures to solve the prominent ecological and environmental problems.

More efforts are needed to strengthen the study and publicity of the law, earnestly perform related statutory duties and promote the implementation of key legal systems to make the public have a greater awareness of the improvement in the environment, Shen said.