The State Council approved the construction of a pilot zone for ecological protection and high-quality development in the Yellow River basin in Northwest China's Ningxia Hui autonomous region, according to a circular released on April 26.

The circular urged balancing ecological protection and regional development and coordinating development and security while sticking to green and low-carbon development.

Environmental remediation, water conservation and ecological restoration must be well-implemented in order to promote general Yellow River protection, the circular said.

The people’s government of Ningxia must formulate supporting policies under the coordination and guidance of the State Council.

The National Development and Reform Commission and the leading group on promoting ecological protection and high-quality development of the Yellow River basin must follow up, analyze and supervise the implementation of the plan, the circular said.