Editor's note: Central China connects the east with the west and links the south to the north, whose economic output accounts for one fifth of China, and enjoys great development potential. In the past five years, by implementing the new development concept, building the new development pattern, and continuously enhancing its comprehensive strength and competitiveness, Central China has opened up a new situation for the rise of China's central region. Starting on March 21, we, together with HICC, are launching a series bilingual coverage with the theme of "Striving to Create a New Situation in the Rise of China's Central Region - Achievements of Central China in Pursuing High-quality Development in Past 5 Years". Here is the third episode: Rising with a green development philosophy.
At the Sanwan Swan Ecological Wetland Park in Pinglu county of Yuncheng city, Central Chinas Shanxi province, the vast wetlands stretch as far as the eye can see, and whooper swans living here sometimes fly, sometimes swim or rest, making a harmonious blending into the surrounding scenery.
Sanwan Swan Ecological Wetland Park. [Photo/Shanxi Daily]
In recent years, Shanxi's ecological civilization construction has been developing rapidly by adhering to the systematic treatment of mountains, rivers, forests, farmland, lakes, grasslands and sandy areas, promoting the synergy of carbon reduction, pollution reduction, green expansion and growth, and stepping up efforts in the protection and management of eco-environment in the Yellow River Basin.
Central China is China's ecological powerhouse. By adhering to green development and promoting harmonious coexistence between man and nature, Central China is rising with a green development philosophy.
The 10-year fishing ban on the Yangtze River having been implemented, the mechanism for compensating ecological conservation efforts having been carried out, the river/lake chief system furthered...A series of measures have begun to pay off, making Central China greener. Now, the establishment of a long-term mechanism for green development is accelerating.
The Yellow River. [Photo provided to dahe.cn]
Today, clear waters and green mountainsare common in Central China. In the past 5 years, Central Chinahas been benefiting from its strengthened ecosystem. For example, the phosphorus concentration in Poyang Lake and Dongting Lake both decreased by over 20 percent compared with 2018, and the water quality of the main stream of the Yangtze River and the main stream of the Yellow River reached Class II and above in 2023. Besides, Central China's forest coverage has been expanding. A total of 47.69 million mu (1 mu equals 666 square meters) of land has been afforested, and a total of 12.1 million mu of sandy and stony desertified land treated.
Not only creating a sound eco-environment, in the past severalyears,Central Chinahasbeen pursuinga co-developmentpathto continuously enhancepeople's well-being.
In Changsha city of Hunan province, mobile phones make people's life more convenient: Over 5 thousand government services are accessible online; Online diagnosis and treatment are available at Xiangya Hospital of Central South University equipped with 5G technology, which helps bring high-quality medical resources to the remote areas; More than 6 thousand parking lots including over 100 thousand parking spaces in Changsha are connected via an app called "Easy Parking" (Yi Ting Che in Chinese)...
Zhengzhou Municipal Administration Center. [Photo/Henan Business Daily]
Over the past 5 years, Central China has been sparing no efforts to enhance public service capacity and provide more high-quality public services. A series of livelihood projects have already begun to pay off.
Carry out vocational training and evaluation-based evidence collection system, improve the conditions of regular schools providing compulsory education, renovate old urban communities, promote the construction of charging infrastructure, develop meal assistance services for the elderly, etc., not long ago, Henan province issued a work plan for promoting people's livelihood in 2024 to foster the resolution of paramount concerns among the populace.
Zhengzhou Bishagang Park. [Photo/Henan Business Daily]
Central China has been stepping up efforts to shore up weak links regarding people's livelihoods to ensure thatmore people could enjoythe fruits of development.
In the past 5 years, in Central China, the per capita disposable income of urban and rural residents has jumped from 26 thousand yuan to 33.3 thousand yuan, the urban-rural income gap has been further narrowed, and the number of first-class hospitals has accounted for about one fifth of the national total...
To pursue innovation, promote development, and improve people's livelihoodand well-being,Central China is rising with strong growth momentum.
Chinese source: Henan Daily
Reporter: Chen Weiwei and Yan Fujing and Wang Yueyang
Translator: Yang Jiaxin
Proofreader: Chen Xingjie and Zhao Hanqing
