Chinese President Xi Jinping called for achieving high-quality economic growth through developing the Yangtze River economic belt. He made the remarks at a symposium in Wuhan, where he held a summit meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He stressed the importance of enhancing reform and innovation, strategic coordination and planning in developing the economic belt.

During his visit to Wuhan, Xi also urged stronger independent innovation capacity for China, saying the country must master the core technology of high-end equipment. China must rely on its own efforts, Xi said at the Three Gorges Dam. China would not have its leading ability if it had relied on others to build the dam, said Xi. The great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation can only be achieved through untiring struggle, he added. During an inspection of a new material industrial park on the Yangtze River, Xi stressed coordination in ecological protection and economic development. The Yangtze river must be protected, and any exploitation that is destructive to the environment must be forbidden, the President said. Environmental recovery must be the project’s top priority, Xi Jinping said. While inspecting a port at Yueyang, Hunan, Xi said those illegally discharging pollutants must face strong punishment.

The President spent two days visiting cities along the Yangzte river in Hubei and Hunan provinces. The economic belt covers 11 provinces and municipalities, including Hubei, Hunan, Shanghai and Chongqing, and is home to about 40% of the country’s population and GDP.