The first meeting of the symposium on consultation and coordination for ecological protection and high-quality development of the Sichuan-Gansu-Qinghai water conservation region in the upper reaches of the Yellow River was held from Aug 5-7 in Ruoergai county, Sichuan province. 

Shao Hong, vice-chairman of the CPPCC National Committee and executive vice-chairman of the Central Committee of the Jiusan Society, attended the meeting and delivered a speech.

The meeting was jointly sponsored by the Central Committee of the Jiusan Society and the Sichuan, Gansu, Qinghai provincial committees of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and guided by the Committee of Population, Resources and Environment of the CPPCC National Committee.

Shao noted that the Yellow River basin is an important economic zone and energy base of China, a major ecological shield in Northwest China and a crucial region for winning the battle of poverty alleviation. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the region's ecological protection and high-quality development have been elevated to a major national strategy. Officials and people in the region have contributed hugely to safeguarding the ecological safety of the water conservation region in the upper reaches of the Yellow River. 

Shao called for collective and coordinated efforts to protect and govern the Yellow River basin, and construct a more solid ecological shield through more effective governance and high-quality economic and social development of the border region of Sichuan, Gansu and Qinghai supported by tourism and other pillar industries.