BEIJING — Vice-Premier Han Zheng has called for efforts to advance eco-conservation and high-quality development of the Yellow River basin.

Han, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and head of the leading group on promoting eco-conservation and high-quality development of the Yellow River basin, stressed regarding water resources as the biggest constraint on the development of population, cities and industries.

More efforts should be made to protect and restore ecological systems, focus on improving water quality and step up comprehensive treatment of environmental pollution, Han said at a conference of the leading group on Wednesday.

He also urged enhancing capabilities to resist floods, changing water usage, building city clusters along the river with high quality and high standards, as well as fostering modern industrial systems with special characteristics.

The working mechanism should be improved to forge a strong force to push eco-conservation and high-quality development of the Yellow River basin, the vice-premier said.