Ecological protection the focus as Xi meets legislators from Inner Mongolia

China’s President Xi Jinping told deputies to the National People’s Congress from the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region that strategic resolve was needed when it comes to building an ecologically-friendly economy.

President Xi met with the deputies from Inner Mongolia during a panel discussion on Tuesday, the first day of the annual session of the country’s legislature in Beijing. He described the protection of the country’s environment as being embedded in China’s overall development strategy, and highlighted its particular relevance when it comes to the development of Inner Mongolia.

Chinese President Xi Jinping shakes hands with his fellow deputies from the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region at the second session of the 13th National People's Congress in Beijing, March 5, 2019. [Photo: Xinhua]

“Ensuring green development” was a phrase that came up repeatedly during the panel discussion. President Xi stressed the importance of addressing the problem of pollution as the country’s economy shifts from being one based on high-speed growth to one that instead relies on high-quality development. Under no circumstances should the environment be sacrificed in exchange for economic development, he said.

NPC Deputy Wu Yunbo says that President Xi Jinping has expressed support for his cattle cooperative and called for similar ones to be established as a means of sustaining local economic development. [Photo: China Media Group]

Inner Mongolia is home to 55 ethnic groups, and was the first autonomous region established in the history of the People’s Republic of China. President Xi said that the region was an essential barrier for ensuring the protection of the ecology in China’s vast northern regions. To this end he suggested that a new model of development be explored that balances local economic development and environmental protection. This new model should prioritize the protection of the region’s iconic grassland and forests, and should effectively resolve the environment issues impacting on the lives of the local people.

In response to a question raised by President Xi, Deputy Yu Lixin from Hulunbuir in Inner Mongolia says that loggers in his hometown have laid down their axes and become protectors of the region’s forest as part of a local forest protection project. [Photo: China Media Group]

President Xi also spoke with the delegates on the panel about the livelihoods of the farmers living in their part of the country. Of particular interest to him was a report about how 26,300 loggers in Hulunbuir City took on the role of protectors of its forest resources. He also heard about how animal husbandry programs had helped efforts in local poverty alleviation.