He Wei, vice-chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee and chairman of the Chinese Peasants and Workers Democratic Party (CPWDP) Central Committee, led a team to Shanghai and East China's Jiangsu province recently to survey democratic oversight over the environmental protection of the Yangtze River. The team held symposiums in both locations.

Noting that Shanghai and Jiangsu have prioritized the restoration and conservation of the Yangtze River's ecological environment, He acknowledged the two regions' efforts in promoting green development along the Yangtze River Economic Belt, setting an example in the construction of pilot zones under the Beautiful China Initiative.

He emphasized the importance of ecological conservation in social and economic development, urging the building of greater political awareness and alignment of thoughts and actions in this regard. Efforts are needed to explore green and low-carbon development path, foster emerging industries of strategic significance such as new energy, new materials, bio-manufacturing and artificial intelligence, and accelerate the cultivation of new quality productive forces to promote high-quality development along the Yangtze River Economic Belt, he said.

More efforts should be made to reinforce urban infrastructure, and appropriately raise the construction standards for pipe network as well as rain and sewage water diversion facilities, so as to prevent and defuse the risks of major natural disasters, he added.

He urged CPWDP members to integrate democratic oversight work effectively with overall development objectives, use their expertise to address critical challenges, and combine democratic oversight work with self-development, striving to build the CPWDP into a capable participating political party in socialism with Chinese characteristics.