XI'AN -- Li Hongzhong, vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), has urged the comprehensive and effective enforcement of the Yellow River Protection Law.

Li, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks as head of an NPC Standing Committee team inspecting the enforcement of the Yellow River law in Northwest China's Shaanxi province from Tuesday to Thursday.

The Yellow River is China's second-largest river, after the Yangtze, and is known as the "mother river." Continuous efforts have been made to protect its ecology in recent years, with the Yellow River Protection Law coming into effect on April 1, 2023.

The inspection team heard a provincial government report on the enforcement of the Yellow River law and conducted field inspections in the cities of Yulin and Xi'an.

Duties and obligations enshrined in the Yellow River Protection Law should be fulfilled strictly, and publicity efforts should be strengthened to enhance public awareness of ecological conservation, Li said.