Mute swans take flight on Ulansuhai Nur, the biggest lake in the Yellow River basin, in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region. LUO YUEZHONG/FOR CHINA DAILY

Vice-Premier Han Zheng called for more efforts on ecological conservation and high-quality development in the Yellow River basin.

Han, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and head of the leading group on promoting eco-conservation and high-quality development in the Yellow River basin, made the remarks Tuesday at a meeting of the group in Jinan, East China's Shandong province.

The meeting played a film on the ecological status quo of the Yellow River basin produced by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment and China Media Group, which made unannounced visits to 52 cities and prefectures along the river over a period of almost three months.

Authorities must take a problem-oriented approach in protecting the Yellow River basin and make sure policies of the CPC Central Committee be implemented, Han said.

Environmental violations must be seriously dealt with according to law and offenders must pay the due price, Han said, urging tailored measures to improve mechanisms for better protection efforts.