2016年CRI Respect, protect nature during development: Xi（在线收听）

Making a stopover in the Sajiangyuan region of Qinghai, President Xi Jinping says the central authorities recognize the importance of the area to the rest of the country.

"Qinghai is the source of life of China. It's very important to protect the ecosystem of Qinghai, as it's the source of the Yellow River, the Yangtze River and the Mekong River. Qinghai shoulders the responsibility of protecting the Sanjiangyuan region. To limit or prohibit exploitation here is not to hinder its development. Instead, we're looking to maintain a healthy level of development," said Xi.

Central authorities have issued a series of rules to protect the Sanjiangyuan region over the years.

This has involved the relocation of people living in the area.

Around 400 Tibetan villagers from the town of Tanggula in the southwest of Qinghai - which is near the source of the Yangtze River - were relocated to the city of Geermu in 2004.

Shen Ge is one of them.

"We lived within the Sanjiangyuan region before immigrating to this place. It's nearly 5 thousand meters above the sea level. We lived in tents and slept on the ground. Electricity is not available there. After we moved, we were given new houses by the government, and were finally able to sleep on beds. We are satisfied with the policy of our Party. Our living standards have been greatly improved. Our dreams have come true," said Shen.

As part of his inspection tour, Xi Jinping has also visited the Qinghai environmental monitoring center.

There he's called on the various ethnic groups in Qinghai to work together to protect the areas lakes, grassland, rivers and wildlife.

Xi Jinping has also made a stop at Chaerhan Salt Lake in the Qaidam Basin, which is China's biggest salt lake.

The region has been making use of the lake to develop its salination industry since the 1950s.

Xi Jinping says the current Chinese government understands the need to keep an ecological balance in the region.

"Recycling is needed to keep a sustainable development. Qinghai needs to balance exploitation and protection of resources and to create industrial processes, techniques and skills featuring low consumption, fewer emissions and high returns," said Xi.

As part of his time in Qinghai, Xi Jinping, who is also the chair of the Central Military Commission, has met with a number of military officers stationed in the area.

For CRI, this is Victor Ning.