Li Bin, vice-chairwoman and secretary-general of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, led a survey of the construction of the Three-North Shelter Forest Programme in North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region from May 17 to 19. 

The survey team she led conducted field inspections in Tumd Left Banner of Hohhot city, the capital of the region, as well as Dalad Banner, Kangbashi district and Ejin Horoo Banner of Ordos city, during which they communicated with local officials, experts and the public. 

Noting that the programme was launched along with China’s reform and opening-up strategy, and has become a successful example for global ecological governance after more than 40 years of development, Li said that the ecological fragility of the Three-North regions, including North China, Northwest China and Northeast China, still requires constant programme improvement. 

She calls for shifting the programme's focus from just forest planting to integrating ecological protection and restoration with consideration of multiple factors. 

She also suggested combining the programme with the rural vitalization strategy so as to raise people's living standards and fuel China's effort to peak carbon emissions and achieve carbon neutrality.