More efforts should be made to protect the ecology and pursue high-quality development of the Yellow River Basin, said He Wei, vice-chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, at a symposium in Xi'an, Shaanxi province, on Oct 13. 

He, also executive vice-chairman of the Central Committee of the Chinese Peasants and Workers Democratic Party, spoke highly of innovative measures for ecological conservation and high-quality development that have been taken by the nine provinces and autonomous regions along the Yellow River since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012. 

He called for efforts to modernize governance system and capacity of the Yellow River Basin by applying modern technologies while building projects and adopting flexible water regulating measures, prevent and control agricultural and industrial pollution, and improve the environment in mining areas. 

He stressed core technological breakthroughs, the optimization of land development layout, and forming a high-quality new development paradigm. 

He called for the establishment of mechanisms for the coordination of the river's upstream and downstream, trunk and tributaries, and related provincial-level regions. 

He urged a shift from natural resource-powered development to innovation-driven development, as well as green economic and social development. 

It's necessary to coordinate economic growth, environmental protection, improvement of people's livelihoods, as well as greater protection and promotion of Yellow River culture, he said. 

He also urged the symposium to enhance its advantages in strengthening cross-regional coordination, deepening exchanges and cooperation, adhering to a problem-oriented approach, and conducting democratic supervision.