In September 2016, China issued the Guidelines for Development Along the Yangtze Economic Belt, ushering in a new stage of the development for the Yangtze River Economic Belt (YEB). This September marks the landmark document's 10th anniversary. Over the past decade, the YEB's development trajectory has undergone a profound transformation, from a model of extensive expansion to one that prioritizes ecological conservation, from a factor-driven economy to an innovation-driven one, and from fragmented development to coordinated regional growth.

The remarkable ecological transformation along the Yangtze River over these 10 years has offered valuable Chinese experience for the governance and sustainable development of major river basins worldwide, providing important insights for the international community.

The Yangtze River is the longest river in China and the world's third longest, flowing eastward through 11 provinces and municipalities before emptying into the East China Sea. Along its banks lie densely-populated areas, including megacities such as Shanghai and Wuhan, as well as numerous medium and small cities. Home to over 40 percent of China's population and contributing over 40 percent of the country's GDP, the YEB is of ecological importance, and holds enormous development potential.

Promoting the YEB's development is part of China's coordinated regional development strategy initiated by President Xi Jinping. This strategy also covers the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. The scheme promotes high-quality development, following an ecological-first and green development approach with the guidance of innovation-driven and coordinated development, and creating world-class industrial clusters. 

According to the National Development and Reform Commission, over the past decade, science and technology innovation and industrial innovation have accelerated their integration in the YEB, resulting in stronger innovation momentum.

For instance, it has produced several internationally competitive technology companies, including AI startup DeepSeek and robot maker Unitree Robotics, alongside the rise of world-class industrial clusters in sectors such as automobile manufacturing and electronic information.

Meanwhile, the navigational capacity of the Yangtze River waterway has been steadily enhanced, with coordinated development fostered among the nine pilot free trade zones along the river. The length of high-grade waterways in the Yangtze system has increased from 8,000 km to 11,500 km over the past decade, and the annual cargo throughput at ports along the river's trunk line has surged by 71 percent to 4.2 billion tons, making it the world's busiest inland waterway.

The ecological environment of the Yangtze River system has also been fundamentally improved, with the share of sections with good water quality rising from 67 percent to 96.5 percent. The water quality of the river's main stream has remained at Grade II in the country's five-tier water quality system for six consecutive years.

The essence of the YEB's 10-year transformation lies in the fundamental reshaping of its development philosophy, with an aim of realizing both ecological protection and economic growth.

Previously, the areas along the Yangtze River, relying on the river's resource advantages, had long pursued economic growth through resource consumption and extensive expansion, resulting in serious problems such as the overuse of its riverbanks, accumulation of water pollution and deterioration of ecological functions.

Since 2016, the YEB has followed the principle of stepping up the river's conservation efforts and stopping its over-development, completely reversing the previous mindset of prioritizing development over protection. The economic belt currently contributes 47.3 percent of the national GDP, up from 42.2 percent 10 years ago, and energy consumption per unit of GDP has decreased, forging a new path of sustainable development.

Its development path not only demonstrates China's successful exploration in river‑basin ecological governance but also carries global significance. Currently, many river basins around the world are facing common challenges, including ecological deterioration, unbalanced development, fragmented governance and disorderly growth. The YEB practices have shown that ecological protection and economic growth are not contradictory, basin governance must follow a systematic approach, and regional development is bound to move toward collaboration and mutual benefit.

Copyedited by Elsbeth van Paridon 

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