On October 8, the Alliance of Innovative Ecological Civilization and Sustainable Development of Yangtze River Economic Belt, led by Zhejiang University and jointly organized by other 19 universities and research institutes in 11 cities and provinces of the Yangtze River Economic Belt, was established in Hangzhou, Zhejiang.     

The Academician Ding Zhongli (Vice President of the Chinese Academy of Sciences), Peng Jiaxue (Vice Governor of Zhejiang Province), Zou Xiaodong (Secretary of Party Committee of Zhejiang University), and Academician Zhang Quanxing of Nanjing University jointly inaugurated the Alliance of Innovative Ecological Civilization and Sustainable Development of Yangtze River Economic Belt. Peng Jiaxue and Academician Wu Zhaohui (President of Zhejiang University) delivered speeches respectively. Vice President of Zhejiang University Yan Jianhua presided over the inauguration ceremony.        

Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the Party Central Committee, with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core, has made a series of important strategic arrangements for the steady advancement of the Yangtze River Economic Belt. General Secretary Xi Jinping clearly pointed out that to promote the development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt, we must take the path of giving priority to ecology, and green development. He also put forward the general requirements of making all-out efforts to protect the Yangtze River, and forbidding large-scale development of it.         

The Alliance of Innovative Ecological Civilization and Sustainable Development of Yangtze River Economic Belt is a nationwide, professional and non-profit academic community voluntarily organized to serve the construction of ecological civilization in the Yangtze River Economic Belt through friendly consultations among 20 units including Zhejiang University. Under the guidance of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, and through the construction of the cooperation and sharing mechanism including scientific research platform, information data and talent team of the Yangtze River Economic Belt, the Alliance implements Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and discuss together the innovative technologies, governance system, mechanisms and other issues that support the ecological civilization construction of the Yangtze River Economic Belt, which contributes to the efforts of building the Yangtze River Economic Belt into a green ecological corridor with clear water, green land and blue sky, as well as a pioneering demonstration of ecological civilization.        

Peng Jiaxue said that to promote the construction of the Yangtze River Economic Belt, we must consider the long-term interests of the Chinese nation, adhere to giving priority to the ecology, green development, and making all-out efforts to protect the Yangtze River, and forbidding large-scale development of it. Zhejiang Province will continue to support the construction and development of the Alliance of Innovative Ecological Civilization and Sustainable Development of Yangtze River Economic Belt. It is hoped that the Alliance will fully utilize the agglomeration effect, work together, and collaborate to solve the bottlenecks in the ecological restoration, environmental protection and coordinated development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt to further open up the transformation channel of lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets and play an important role in the ecological civilization construction of the Yangtze River Economic Belt.         

Wu Zhaohui said that the ecological civilization construction of the Yangtze River Economic Belt has obvious strategic significance and demonstration effect. All parties should promote cross-disciplinary convergence through the Alliance of Innovative Ecological Civilization and Sustainable Development of Yangtze River Economic Belt, create a demonstration platform for the innovation research of ecological civilization with all the advantageous resources, so as to be a deeply-engaged participant, a firm promoter and high-end provider of the ecological civilization of the Yangtze River Economic Belt.         

Academician Cai Daoji from Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences of Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Academician Liu Wenqing of Anhui Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Academician Zhu Lizhong of Zhejiang University attended the inaugural meeting. Academician Ding Zhongli made recommendations on the construction and development of the Alliance. Academician Hou Li'an of the Institute of Logistics Science and Technology of the PLA Rocket Force, and Shen Renfang, Director of Nanjing Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, spoke on behalf of the Advisory Committee and members of the Alliance.         

The Alliance of Innovative Ecological Civilization and Sustainable Development of Yangtze River Economic Belt has held preparatory meetings, signing and consultation meetings previously. The governing units discussed and approved the Alliance Charter, Advisory Committee and the list of executive committee, and signed the cooperation agreement of the Alliance. Leaders from Zhejiang Environmental Protection Bureau, the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Water Resources, leaders of the relevant departments and faculties of Zhejiang University as well as leaders and representatives of the initiation units also attended the inaugural meeting. The inaugural meeting was undertaken by the College of Environmental & Resource Sciences of Zhejiang University.