Waterway runs through nine provinces, regions before flowing into Bohai Sea

China will beef up efforts to safeguard the Yellow River by establishing a working mechanism that delivers both ecological protection and high-quality development, a high-level meeting announced.

Presided over by Vice-Premier Han Zheng on Wednesday, the conference of the leading group on promoting ecological conservation alongside high-quality development in the Yellow River basin was attended by officials of the nine provincial regions in the basin and also heads of some central government bodies, including He Lifeng, director of the National Development and Reform Commission, and Finance Minister Liu Kun.

The protection of the Yellow River, known as the cradle of Chinese civilization, is one of the top concerns for the country's leadership. President Xi Jinping has visited the river basin several times during inspection tours to various regions.

"The protection of the Yellow River is critical to the great rejuvenation and sustainable development of the Chinese nation," Xi said on Sept 18, 2019, while chairing a symposium during an inspection tour of Henan province, adding that it is a major national strategy.