To fully implement the guiding principles from the 20th CPC National Congress and the third plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, and to thoroughly execute the spirit of Xi Jinping Thought on Eco-civilization and the directives issued by General Secretary Xi Jinping, with the approval of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, and in accordance with the guidelines set forth at the Meeting of the 20th Central Leading Group for the Inspection Work of Ecological and Environmental Protection, the Central Third Ecological and Environmental Protection Inspection Team has recently arrived in Sichuan Province to carry out the inspection activities. On October 18, a mobilization meeting was convened in Chengdu for the arrival of the inspection team. Fu Zhifang, the head of the inspection team, and Zhai Qing, the deputy head, both spoke at the meeting, highlighting the significance of carrying out the inspection efficiently. Wang Xiaohui, Secretary of the CPC Sichuan Provincial Committee, initiated the mobilization for the inspection team's deployment in the province.

Fu Zhifang pointed out that the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core attaches great importance to the construction of ecological civilization and the protection of the ecological environment, considers ecological conservation as a vital component for implementing the Five-Sphere Integrated Plan and the Four-Pronged Comprehensive Strategy in a coordinated way, and propels China's environmental protection endeavors to see sweeping, historic, and transformative changes. The third plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, held in Beijing in July 2024, serves as an overall plan and call to action for further deepening reform comprehensively to advance Chinese modernization on the new journey in the new era. The Resolution of the CPC Central Committee on Further Deepening Reform Comprehensively to Advance Chinese Modernization, adopted at the session, put forward the following proposals: "Building a Beautiful China. We will ramp up the green transition in all areas of economic and social development and improve the environmental governance system. We will prioritize ecological protection, conserve resources and use them efficiently, and pursue green and low-carbon development, with a view to promoting harmony between humanity and nature." Additionally, a dedicated chapter in the Resolution outlines major plans for deepening reform in ecological conservation. The Resolution fully reflects the high priority and strategic planning of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core for ecological conservation, pointing the way forward for deepening reform in ecological conservation and comprehensively advancing the development of Beautiful China on the new journey of the new era. The Yangtze River Economic Belt development strategy is a major decision made by the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, which is integral to the overall development of the nation. General Secretary Xi Jinping attaches great importance to this matter. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, General Secretary Xi Jinping has hosted four special symposiums on advancing the development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt and delivered important speeches. Additionally, he has made multiple inspections in provinces (cities) along the river. He has clearly defined the strategic positioning of the Yangtze River Economic Belt, required that restoring the ecological environment of the Yangtze River should be given top priority, and called for ensuring well-coordinated environmental protection and avoiding excessive development. The central ecological and environmental protection inspection is a significant institutional innovation and reform measure that has been personally planned, initiated, and driven forward by General Secretary Xi Jinping. It acts as a solid approach and systemic assurance for the practical application of Xi Jinping Thought on Eco-civilization. At every critical juncture and moment of the inspection, General Secretary Xi Jinping takes the helm, guides the direction, and leads the charge, issuing a series of important instructions and directives. He fully acknowledges the effectiveness of the inspections, emphasizing the need to maintain strict steps, rigorously address the issues identified through inspections, and continue to leverage the sharp tool of inspection for further improvements. Premier Li Qiang and Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang have also issued clear directives regarding the inspection work on multiple occasions. It is essential to further elevate the political standing, fully implement the guiding principles from the 20th CPC National Congress and the third plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, and diligently apply the tenets of Xi Jinping Thought on Eco-civilization and the important instructions and directives issued by General Secretary Xi Jinping, execute the plans set forth in the National Conference on Ecological and Environmental Protection, firmly grasp the hard truth that high-quality development is of paramount importance in the new era, and coordinate the river basin and province-wide inspections, promote new progress in the high-quality development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt, facilitate the green and low-carbon transition in economic and social development, and drive significant achievements in the construction of a Beautiful China.

Fu Zhifang emphasized that for the central ecological and environmental protection inspection to be effective, it is vital to prioritize the delivery of Xi Jinping Thought on Eco-civilization as a significant political responsibility, give overriding importance to the implementation of General Secretary Xi Jinping's crucial instructions and directives, maintain a people-centric philosophy, align with serving the overall interests, adopt a systemic outlook, focus on problem-solving with a rigorous stance, ensure precision, scientific validity, and legal compliance, and coordinate the efforts in economic development, public welfare, and eco-environmental protection. During the inspection, the focus is given not only to the comprehensive and shared challenges within the Yangtze River Economic Belt basin but also to pinpointing key issues in the context of socio-economic development, natural resource endowment, and ecological security positioning. Key areas of focus for the inspection include: the implementation of Xi Jinping Thought on Eco-civilization and the delivery of General Secretary Xi Jinping's important instructions and directives; the enforcement of major decisions and plans set by the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, as well as the implementation of laws and regulations such as the Yangtze River Protection Law; the progress of green and low-carbon development, actively and steadily advancing carbon peak and carbon neutrality, and resolutely curbing the blind development of energy-intensive projects with high emissions and backward production capacity; the progress in the critical battle against pollution; prominent issues in air pollution prevention and control; the illegal encroachment on nature reserves, development and construction activities that breach ecological protection red lines, the destruction of riverbanks, and damage to cropland ecology, as well as the inadequate enforcement of the ten-year fishing ban in the Yangtze River; the construction and operation of environmental infrastructure, the prevention and control of agricultural non-point source pollution, the treatment and disposal of solid waste, especially construction waste, and the management of "three phosphorus" pollution; the conservation and governance of important lakes and the eco-environmental protection of key tributaries; the rectification of issues identified in inspections and through eco-environmental warning films; prominent ecological and environmental issues reported by the people; and the enforcement of shared responsibilities for ecological and environmental protection by both Party and government bodies, among other areas.

Wang Xiaohui emphasized that the central ecological and environmental protection inspection serves as a political assessment and professional evaluation of the province's adherence to and execution of the strategies and directives set by the Party Central Committee and the State Council. This inspection is expected to significantly enhance our thorough understanding and application of Xi Jinping Thought on Eco-civilization, thereby fostering the rapid development of the Beautiful Sichuan through higher standards and more concrete action plans. All regions and departments across the province must stand at the political height of unwaveringly upholding the "two affirmations" and resolutely accomplishing the "two upholds", be determined to complete the significant political task of accepting the central ecological and environmental protection inspection, actively and proactively cooperate in all work related to the inspection, honestly disclose issues, readily submit to public oversight, and go all out to solidly deliver the rectification and implementation of feedback issues from the inspection, ensuring that every matter is addressed and every item receives a response. We should take the central ecological and environmental protection inspection as an opportunity to thoroughly address pollution prevention and control with a broad application of the lessons learned, adopt a systematic approach to advancing ecological conservation and restoration, accelerate the comprehensive green transformation of production and lifestyle, continuously strengthen our efforts in reinforcing the ecological shield along the upper reaches of the Yangtze and the Yellow Rivers, and constantly strengthen the green foundation for the new chapter of Sichuan in advancing Chinese modernization, in a bid to make a greater contribution to maintaining national ecological security.

At the meeting, Zhai Qing put forward requirements for cooperation in the inspection, making improvements while being inspected, information disclosure, precise, scientific, and law-based inspection, and effectively reducing the burden on primary levels. He also expressed his stance on all members of the inspection team strictly adhering to disciplinary requirements and accepting supervision from the inspected localities and society. All members of the Central Ecological and Environmental Protection Inspection Team, relevant officials from the Office of the Central Leading Group for the Inspection Work of Ecological and Environmental Protection Inspection, and relevant leaders from Sichuan Province, among others, attended the meeting. Leaders from various city-level (prefectural) Party and government authorities participated in the meeting in a non-voting capacity through a video conferencing system.

As per the planned schedule, the Central Third Ecological and Environmental Protection Inspection Team will carry out its inspection activities in the province for one month. Throughout the inspection period (from October 18, 2024, to November 18, 2024), a duty phone line: 028-60595571, and a dedicated postal mailbox: No. A535, Chengdu Municipality, Sichuan Province, will be made available. The inspection team will receive reports and take calls from 8:00 to 20:00 every day. According to the requirements of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, as well as the responsibilities of the inspection team, the Central Ecological and Environmental Protection Inspection Team primarily handles letters, calls, and public complaints reporting ecological and environmental protection issues in Sichuan Province. Other public complaints and reports that are outside the team's purview will be referred to the inspected localities for handling in accordance with regulations.