XINING -- Chinese President Xi Jinping has stressed continued efforts to protect the ecology of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau during an inspection tour in Qinghai Province from Tuesday to Wednesday.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, also called on the province to promote high-quality development through deepening reform, expanding opening-up, and pursuing green development, ethnic unity and common prosperity.

The plateau, located in northwest China, boasts rich, diverse yet fragile ecosystems. It is home to the Sanjiangyuan area, dubbed as "the water tower of China," where the Yangtze River, Yellow River, and Lancang River originate.

Qinghai is a province with concentrated ethnic minority groups.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a middle school in Xining, northwest China's Qinghai Province, June 18, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

On Tuesday afternoon, Xi went to a middle school in the provincial capital Xining. It is a boarding school funded and built with assistance from Shanghai and accommodates ethnic minority students from the pastoral areas in Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture.

Xi visited the school's canteen, a dormitory building, and a classroom where he listened to the students telling how their hometown had changed and viewed the students' drawings.

Xi highlighted the notable achievements of the collaboration between the country's eastern and western regions as well as paired assistance, particularly in education.

This fully showcases the strength of the Party's leadership and the socialist system with Chinese characteristics, as well as the support for each other among members of the big family of the Chinese nation, Xi said.

Paired assistance plays a crucial role in China's development. The pairing of developed and underdeveloped regions is widespread across sectors including healthcare, education, and industries. Within this framework, capital, skilled workers, and other resources are directed from wealthier regions to those lagging behind to foster their development.

On the campus square, Xi was surrounded by the faculty and students. He expressed the hope that the students will study hard and strive for a bright future.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a Tibetan Buddhist temple in Xining, northwest China's Qinghai Province, June 18, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

Later, Xi visited the centuries-old Hongjue Temple. He said the temple had played an important role as a bridge in strengthening the bond between the central government and Tibetan Buddhism over generations.

"It is essential to protect this precious historical and cultural heritage, and renew efforts to foster a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation and promote ethnic unity and progress," Xi said.

He expressed the hope for the Tibetan Buddhist circle in the province to carry on the fine traditions of patriotism, help promote religious, social and ethnic harmony, and play an active role in advancing Chinese modernization.

On Wednesday morning, Xi listened to the report of the provincial committee of the CPC and the provincial government on their work.

Noting that Qinghai is tasked with the crucial mission of safeguarding ecological security, Xi said the province must keep in mind what to do and what not to do in developing its industries.

Qinghai should effectively tap into its resources and accelerate building itself into a world-class salt lake industrial base, a national clean energy hub, an international eco-tourism destination, and a supplier of green agricultural and livestock products, Xi said.

He asked the province to further overall reform, expand opening up, improve the business environment and contribute to building a Green Silk Road.

Xi emphasized that strengthening eco-environment protection is a primary task for Qinghai. He said the province must earnestly implement the law on ecological conservation on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau and carry out major projects for preserving and restoring key ecosystems.

He said the priority is to safeguard "the water tower of China," protect biodiversity and enhance water conservation capacity.

Qinghai should establish exemplary nature reserves, typical of China and with global influence, through the construction of a nature reserve system with national parks as mainstays, he said.

Xi called for solid efforts to resolve pressing difficulties and problems that concern the people most, and make basic public services more balanced and accessible. "Rural revitalization should prioritize increasing income for farmers and herdsmen," he said.

Xi added that the Party's major principles and policies on work related to ethnic and religious affairs should be fully implemented, with a focus on forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation.

He underlined the importance of remaining committed to the principle that religions in China must be Chinese in orientation, and strengthening religious affairs administration in line with the law.