Plan to Establish Dongting Lake Ecological Economic Zone Issued

With the approval of the State Council, the National Development and Reform Commission issued a plan to establish the Dongting Lake Ecological Economic Zone in a new era. On February 14, a person in charge of the National Development and Reform Commission briefed on the plan.

Dongting Lake is the second largest freshwater lake in China, an important regulated lake in the Yangtze River, and a place of fish and rice in China.

The plan defines the functional orientations of the Dongting Lake Ecological Economic Zone in following four aspects:

--A leading area for collaborative governance of rivers and lakes. Efforts will be made to strengthen the comprehensive treatment between the Dongting Lake and the Yangtze River as well as the Xiangjiang, Zijiang, Yuanshui, and Lishui rivers, effectively improve the ecological environment and ecological functions of the lake, and accelerate the construction and improvement of a health security system of rivers and lakes.

--A pioneering area of green transformation for lake regions. Based on the advantages of characteristic agricultural resources, efforts will be made to vigorously develop high-yield, high-quality, efficient, ecological and safe agriculture, continue to promote the intelligent and green transformation and upgrading of traditional industries, and cultivate and expand strategic emerging industries.

--A port logistics hub in inland regions. Efforts will be made to accelerate the construction of a modern comprehensive three-dimensional transportation network and create a modern logistics operation system of "channel + hub + network".

--A tourist destination for landscape culture. Relying on rivers and lakes, ecological wetlands and mountains with lush green vegetation, efforts will be made to promote the development of characteristic tourism in the lake region that blends mountains and rivers, and cultivate and develop a brand on the Dongting Lake.

The plan puts forward development goals for 2025 and 2030, and talks about prospects for 2035.

In order to build an attractive and richly-endowed great lake economic zone, the plan specifies key tasks such as strengthening ecological protection and restoration, strengthening comprehensive pollution control, promoting the construction of "A Dongting Lake Well Harnessed", advancing the green transformation and upgrading of industries, pushing forward urban and rural construction for a harmonious relationship between people and water, enhancing the driving force of open development, and improving the security level of people's livelihood.

This article is from the Hunan Provincial Government www.enghunan.gov.cn.

Translator: Xiao Juan

Chinese source: hunan.gov.cn