A National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee team tasked with inspecting the enforcement of the Yangtze River Protection Law visits a wharf at the Nanchang section of the Ganjiang River, a tributary of the Yangtze River, in East China's Jiangxi province, July 7, 2022. [Photo/npc.gov.cn] 

Senior legislator Wang Chen called for rigorous enforcement of the Yangtze River Protection Law to advance progress in the river's pollution control and ecological restoration.

Wang, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), made the remarks while leading a team to inspect the enforcement of the law in East China's Jiangxi province from July 6 to 8.

After hearing the province's report on enforcing the law, the team inspected shoreline renovation and ecological restoration at the Nanchang section of the Ganjiang River and the Jiujiang section of the Yangtze River. Ganjiang River is a tributary of the Yangtze River, the longest river in China. The team also visited a waste-to-energy plant in Nanchang and facilities for sewage and industrial wastewater treatment in Jiujiang.

Wang recognized the province's solid efforts and progress in putting into practice the strategic requirement of "promoting well-coordinated environmental protection of the Yangtze River and avoiding excessive development" and forging ahead in the anti-pollution fight in accordance with the law.

A National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee team tasked with inspecting the enforcement of the Yangtze River Protection Law visits a waste management site in Nanchang, East China's Jiangxi province, July 7, 2022. [Photo/npc.gov.cn]

Stressing that the river's protection still faces daunting challenges, Wang urged Jiangxi to stay committed to a path that prioritizes ecological protection and green development, stick to targeted, scientific and law-based measures in the fight against pollution, and go all out to prevent and curb pollution of the river.

He also said it's important to enhance cross-regional coordination in the river basin and continue to crack down on illegal activities related to environmental pollution.

A National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee team tasked with inspecting the enforcement of the Yangtze River Protection Law visits the Jiujiang section of the Yangtze River in East China's Jiangxi province, July 8, 2022. [Photo/npc.gov.cn]

A National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee team holds a symposium to hear Jiangxi province's report on the enforcement of the Yangtze River Protection Law in Nanchang, capital city of the province, July 6, 2022. [Photo/npc.gov.cn]