In January 2016, the concept of "jointly promoting comprehensive protection and avoiding excessive development" put forward at the Chongqing Forum set a clear direction for the development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt. Over the past decade, this mother river, which nourishes 11 provinces and cities and spans the eastern, central and western regions, has bid farewell to its former state of "overexertion". Through the dual practices of ecological restoration and industrial innovation, it has regained vitality and painted a magnificent picture of Chinese-style modernization featuring harmonious coexistence between humans and nature along the Yangtze River.

Once, illegal sewage discharge and overfishing overwhelmed the Yangtze River. Today, however, finless porpoises leaping with the waves have become a common sight, and vanished indigenous fish species are gradually returning. Behind this transformation lies ten years of precise pollution control: more than 200,000 sewage outlets into the river have been inspected and regulated one by one; the elimination rate of black and odorous water bodies in county-level cities has exceeded 90%; the total phosphorus concentration in the Yangtze River Basin has dropped by over 40%; the proportion of excellent water quality has surged from 67% to 96.5%, with the main stream maintaining Class Ⅱ water quality for six consecutive years. Five years after the implementation of the 10-year fishing ban in the Yangtze River, the number of indigenous fish species monitored in the basin has increased by 36, and the aquatic biological integrity index has risen by two levels. Liu Hong, a patrol officer in Jiangjin, Chongqing, deeply feels this change. Now, when patrolling by boat, fish often jump into the vessel, and the river scenery from his childhood memories has finally returned. From the rectification of problems in more than 1,300 national-level nature reserves to the advancement of 17 integrated restoration projects for mountains, rivers, forests, farmlands, lakes, grasslands and deserts, the ecological barrier of the Yangtze River is being continuously consolidated.

The Yangtze River Economic Belt has never slowed down its development pace due to ecological protection; instead, it has blazed a path of dual improvement in "green content" and "gold content". Over the past decade, the regional GDP has more than doubled, accounting for an increase from 42.2% to 47.3% of the national total, and world-class industrial clusters have been formed in fields such as electronic information and new energy vehicles. Jiujiang Petrochemical has adopted full-process sewage purification technology, with its effluent indicators far exceeding national standards. It saves 3.5 million tons of fresh water every year, and the factory area has even become an ecological scenic spot where silver pheasants inhabit. Chery Automobile in Anhui has deeply cultivated new energy technologies, maintaining a leading position in sales in 2025 and driving the formation of a complete industrial chain of new energy vehicles along the river. The cultivation of 41 national-level advanced manufacturing clusters and 30 strategic emerging industry clusters has made this region one of the most vibrant areas for innovation and entrepreneurship in China.

Breaking administrative barriers and promoting the flow of factors are the keys to the high-quality development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt. Over the past decade, the length of high-grade waterways in the Yangtze River system has increased from 8,000 kilometers to 11,000 kilometers. 50,000-ton-class ships can directly reach Nanjing, and 10,000-ton-class ships can reach Wuhan. The cargo throughput of trunk line ports has reached 4.2 billion tons, ranking first among inland rivers in the world. Suzhou-Chuzhou High-tech Zone has learned from the experience of Suzhou Industrial Park and transformed from farmland into a new city integrating industry and urban living through the "separation of management and operation" model. Shangrao has established "scientific and technological innovation flyovers" to integrate into the Yangtze River Delta G60 Science and Technology Innovation Corridor, successfully solving the problem of shortage of high-end talents. The linkage between China-Europe Railway Express and the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor in the west, as well as the joint efforts of 9 pilot free trade zones, have made the Yangtze River Economic Belt an aorta connecting the domestic and international dual circulations.

The rebirth of the Yangtze River is ultimately reflected in the enhanced sense of happiness of the people living along the river. The per capita disposable income of residents in the basin has increased from 23,000 yuan to 44,000 yuan. The South-to-North Water Diversion Project has delivered a total of over 84 billion cubic meters of water, benefiting 195 million people. Jinyun County in Zhejiang Province has transformed abandoned quarries into cultural and tourist attractions, and Li Hui, a homestay owner, has reaped the benefits of the "ecological economy". Cities along the river have strived to build 15-minute living circles, where light rail commuting and shared high-quality educational resources have become the norm. The flood control project system centered on the Three Gorges Reservoir has completely improved the flood control situation in the Jingjiang section, building a solid safety barrier for the people along the river.

Ten years of unremitting efforts have witnessed the remarkable transformation of the Yangtze River Economic Belt, which profoundly confirms the scientific connotation of prioritizing ecology and pursuing green development. From clear water flowing eastward to prosperity on both banks, from fragmented development to coordinated progress, the rebirth of China's mother river is not only the restoration of the ecological environment but also the innovation of development concepts. In the future, this golden waterway carrying the hopes of the nation will surely continue to write a new era chapter of beautiful ecology, thriving industries and prosperous people.