CNR:

Sichuan is located in the upper reaches of the Yangtze and Yellow rivers and is of significant ecological importance. People who travel to Sichuan for business or tourism often praise the picturesque landscapes of lucid waters and lush mountains through their WeChat accounts. Additionally, the phenomenon of being able to see snowcapped mountains from urban areas of Chengdu frequently trends online. Could you please elaborate on the ecological conservation efforts that Sichuan has undertaken in recent years? Thank you.

Huang Qiang:

Thank you for your question; I'll answer it. As we all know, Qinghai is the source of both the Yangtze and Yellow rivers, and Sichuan is one of the provincial-level regions through which the two major rivers flow. Sichuan contributes one-quarter of the surface water resources of the Yangtze River Basin, providing 40% of the water during the dry season and 26% during the rainy season for the main stream of the Yellow River. It is also one of the 36 global biodiversity hotspots, bearing significant responsibility for maintaining national ecological security.

We have firmly developed a strong sense about the protection of the upstream reaches, with the rate of water quality deemed "good" and "excellent" at national monitoring sections in the province reaching 100% last year.

When it comes to ecology, we should look toward the beloved giant panda. Together with Gansu and Shaanxi provinces, we are actively developing the Giant Panda National Park to a high quality to protect the largest habitat of giant pandas globally. It is gratifying that the status of the giant panda has been downgraded from "endangered" to "vulnerable". Wild giant pandas often come down from the mountains, while just last month, researchers in the Wolong National Nature Reserve encountered three pandas in just one day.

The 3.96-meter-tall bronze divine tree in the Sanxingdui Museum is particularly eye-catching, showcasing the reverence for nature of the people in the ancient Shu Kingdom, a tradition that has endured to this day. Along the Cuiyu Corridor, a section of the Ancient Shu Roads in Guangyuan and Mianyang, there is the world's largest artificial cypress forest, now a popular destination for domestic and foreign tourists. Today, I would like to recommend another scenic spot — Yunfeng Mountain in Ya'an, where there are magnificent Phoebe zhennan trees, with 124 trees over 100 years old, including two towering, lush trees that are 1,700 years old and blossom every year. Having worked in Sichuan for three and a half years, I was surprised to find that Phoebe zhennan trees over 1,000 years old could still produce seeds. Typically, the seeds fall in the spring after remaining on the trees throughout fall and winter, perpetuating the cycle of life. Fourteen years ago, CCTV hailed these two trees as the "Kings of Phoebe Zhennan Trees," and their wood is commonly referred to as "golden nanmu." This forest of Phoebe zhennan trees is truly remarkable.

"Green" is an inherent property of Sichuan, and we will continue to protect and cherish it.

Chengdu is currently hosting the International Horticultural Exhibition, and next year it will host the World Games. We sincerely invite you all to come to Sichuan, experience the vibrant atmosphere of high-quality development firsthand, enjoy the beautiful scenery, taste the delicious food, drink Sichuan wine, and savor Sichuan tea to refresh both body and mind. Thank you.

Shou Xiaoli:

The last two questions.