Xi chairs leadership meeting on Yangtze River Economic Belt development, CPC leadership over foreign affairs

The Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) on Nov. 27 held a meeting to review Guidelines on Policies and Measures for Further Promoting High-Quality Development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt, and Regulations on the CPC Leadership over Foreign Affairs. Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, chaired the meeting. 

It was noted at the meeting that the Yangtze River Economic Belt development strategy is a major strategic decision made by the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at the core. Since the implementation of the strategy, major changes have taken place in the understanding of the strategy, ecological environment, development mode, regional integration, and reform and opening up. As a result, the quality of development has steadily improved, and the situation is getting better.

Advancing the high-quality development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt relies fundamentally on the sound ecology of the Yangtze River basin, according to the meeting. It is essential to unswervingly adhere to the policy of extensive protection of ecological environment and refraining from excessive development, make greater efforts in high-level protection of the river basin, and never cross the ecological red line that has been drawn. Efforts to cut carbon emissions, reduce pollution, increase vegetation and pursue growth should be advanced in a coordinated manner. Technological innovation as a main driver must be given full play to actively explore new areas of development, strengthen the integration of regional innovation chains, and vigorously promote the modernization of industrial and supply chains. It is imperative to coordinate well the layout and transfer of industries along the Yangtze River, improve connections between domestic and international markets, effectively utilize both resources, boost the endogenous power and reliability of domestic economy, and increase the domestic market's appeal and impetus to the global economy. It is important to maintain inter-provincial consultation, ecological co-governance, all-region collaboration, and shared development, advance regional transport integration, deepen market-based reforms of production factors, and promote coordinated development among regions. We must ensure both development and security, safeguard the security and stability of key industrial and supply chains, and improve the river basin's capacity for disaster prevention and mitigation, so that the stability of the Yangtze River Economic Belt will contribute to the overall national security. It is a must to adhere to the working mechanism under which the central authorities coordinate overall planning, provincial governments take overall responsibility, and city or county governments carry out specific work about implementation of plans, strengthen coordination and supervision, provide more supportive policies, and promote a batch of major reform projects in key areas. Party committees and governments at all levels across the provinces and cities along the Yangtze River must fulfill their principal responsibilities, better implement plans and arrangements in a down-to-earth manner, and continue their efforts with perseverance, so as to make new progress in advancing the high-quality development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt.

It is noted at the meeting that the Regulations on the CPC Leadership over Foreign Affairs, by laying down rules, has transformed the Party's guiding ideas, well-tried system and mechanisms as well as successful practices into established institutions, which are of great significance to the sound implementation of the policies, principles and strategic plans made by the CPC Central Committee on foreign affairs.

The meeting stressed the need to further strengthen the centralized and unified leadership of the CPC Central Committee over foreign affairs. Efforts should be accelerated to establish a comprehensive system of laws and regulations on foreign-related matters so as to continuously institutionalize and standardize the work relating to foreign affairs in a scientific way. It is important to deeply understand the missions and tasks of the Party's foreign-related work on the new journey of the new era, and implement Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy in the whole process and every aspect of the work in this regard. In this way, favorable conditions will be created for advancing the noble cause of building China into a strong country and realizing national rejuvenation, and for making greater contributions to world peace and development, and to the building of a community with a shared future for humanity.

Other matters were also discussed at the meeting.