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G. Qiao
governance system and capabilities, and also an important guarantee for long-term
stability of the country. In better promoting and protecting the green development
of the Yangtze River Economic Belt under the guidance of the vision of ecological
civilization, the rule of law which is authoritative, stable and compulsory will play
a fundamental role. It can be said that green development would not be possible
without the guidance, protection and regulation of law. It should be written in law
that the Yangtze River Economic Belt is for green development, to achieve “good
governance with a good law,” and see to it that the Economic Belt truly prioritizes
ecological conservation and embarks on the green development path.
1. Improving the system of law
Under the guidance of the vision of ecological civilization, the law is an indispensable booster for the green development of Yangtze River Economic Belt. Good
governance requires good laws. Considering the Yangtze River Basin as a whole
and its functions, we need a systematic set of laws and regulations to govern the
river basin. Therefore, the legislation should follow the principle of “centralized
planning, supervision and pollution control, and uniform standards” to construct
a uniform legal system governing environmental protection in the Economic Belt.
Recent years have heard loud cries for a comprehensive law on the protection of
Yangtze River. The advocates argue that: “To prioritize ecological conservation and
promote green development in the Yangtze River Economic Belt, we need a comprehensive law that covers and coordinates all elements across the entire river basin.”
The focus of such law should be to realize the green development of the Yangtze River
Economic Belt, eliminate the inconsistency between previous departmental or local
regulations, comprehensively adjust the protection, development, and utilization of
the Economic Belt, establish relevant legal liability systems, and thus reflect and
meet the special development characteristics and practical needs of the Yangtze River
Basin. In addition, it is necessary to strengthen the legislative coordination between
departments, between local governments, and between departments and localities
on promoting and protecting the green development of the Yangtze River Economic
Belt. In accordance with the reality of different localities and departments, we shall
improve legislation under the guidance of the Law on the Protection of the Yangtze
River and existing Environmental Protection Law and the Water Law. Meanwhile, we
will strengthen legislation coordination between different localities through mechanisms such as joint provincial- and municipal-level meetings and contracts, and use
legal means to jointly promote the green development of the Yangtze River Economic
Belt.
2. Improving the administrative regulation mechanism
In essence, the integration of the Yangtze River Economic Belt is not only about
centralized governance of water resources utilization and protection and shipping,
but also the coordinated governance of industries, transport, ecology, culture and
social undertakings across the entire Economic Belt. As China keeps modernizing its
G. Qiao
governance system and capabilities, and also an important guarantee for long-term
stability of the country. In better promoting and protecting the green development
of the Yangtze River Economic Belt under the guidance of the vision of ecological
civilization, the rule of law which is authoritative, stable and compulsory will play
a fundamental role. It can be said that green development would not be possible
without the guidance, protection and regulation of law. It should be written in law
that the Yangtze River Economic Belt is for green development, to achieve “good
governance with a good law,” and see to it that the Economic Belt truly prioritizes
ecological conservation and embarks on the green development path.
1. Improving the system of law
Under the guidance of the vision of ecological civilization, the law is an indispensable booster for the green development of Yangtze River Economic Belt. Good
governance requires good laws. Considering the Yangtze River Basin as a whole
and its functions, we need a systematic set of laws and regulations to govern the
river basin. Therefore, the legislation should follow the principle of “centralized
planning, supervision and pollution control, and uniform standards” to construct
a uniform legal system governing environmental protection in the Economic Belt.
Recent years have heard loud cries for a comprehensive law on the protection of
Yangtze River. The advocates argue that: “To prioritize ecological conservation and
promote green development in the Yangtze River Economic Belt, we need a comprehensive law that covers and coordinates all elements across the entire river basin.”
The focus of such law should be to realize the green development of the Yangtze River
Economic Belt, eliminate the inconsistency between previous departmental or local
regulations, comprehensively adjust the protection, development, and utilization of
the Economic Belt, establish relevant legal liability systems, and thus reflect and
meet the special development characteristics and practical needs of the Yangtze River
Basin. In addition, it is necessary to strengthen the legislative coordination between
departments, between local governments, and between departments and localities
on promoting and protecting the green development of the Yangtze River Economic
Belt. In accordance with the reality of different localities and departments, we shall
improve legislation under the guidance of the Law on the Protection of the Yangtze
River and existing Environmental Protection Law and the Water Law. Meanwhile, we
will strengthen legislation coordination between different localities through mechanisms such as joint provincial- and municipal-level meetings and contracts, and use
legal means to jointly promote the green development of the Yangtze River Economic
Belt.
2. Improving the administrative regulation mechanism
In essence, the integration of the Yangtze River Economic Belt is not only about
centralized governance of water resources utilization and protection and shipping,
but also the coordinated governance of industries, transport, ecology, culture and
social undertakings across the entire Economic Belt. As China keeps modernizing its