The State Council approved a national territorial spatial plan for Zhejiang province for the 2021-2035 period, according to an official reply released on Dec 25.

According to the reply, by 2035, the total area of cultivated land in Zhejiang should be no less than 18.76 million mu, and the red line area for ecological protection should not be less than 36,700 square kilometers.

Zhejiang is asked to be deeply integrated into the development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt and the Yangtze River Delta, said the reply, adding that the coordination in layout should be strengthened with the development of Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei and the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, further pushing forward its opening-up to a higher level.

Efforts should be intensified for the protection and construction of main grain production areas such as the Hangzhou-Jiaxing-Huzhou Plain, and systemic ecological conservation and restoration in areas around Taihu Lake Basin, Hangzhou Bay, and Zhoushan Islands, the reply said.

It stressed that Zhejiang should seize the opportunity presented by industrial digitalization and digital industrialization to build Ningbo Port and Zhoushan Port into world-class ports.

In the meantime, measures should be taken to intensify protection of world heritages in Zhejiang such as West Lake, the Grand Canal and the ruins of Liangzhu ancient city, according to the reply.