Yonglian, a village in Nanfeng town, Zhangjiagang, Suzhou, East China's Jiangsu province, attaches great importance to the protection of the Yangtze River's natural environment. [Photo/Official WeChat account: yongliancunchina]

Yonglian, a village in Nanfeng town, Zhangjiagang, Suzhou, East China's Jiangsu province, was once an impoverished village along the Yangtze River. However, since the beginning of the reform and opening-up era in the 1970s, the village has developed a modern agriculture industry with its agricultural industrial chain developing rapidly over the years.

Wu Huifang, a deputy to the National People's Congress (NCP) from Yonglian village, said that Yonglian will play an active role in the building of a new countryside and promote the modernization of agriculture and rural areas, improving the lives of local people.

Traditional industries account for a large proportion of Yonglian village's economy. In recent years, it has been focusing on the integrated development of its primary, secondary, and tertiary industries by promoting the balanced development of the agricultural and tourism sectors.

A complete agricultural industrial chain including catering, sightseeing, and entertainment has developed in the village, and a healthy environment has improved the quality of life among residents.

"Yonglian village has invested more than 6 billion yuan ($840 million) in making enterprises more environmentally friendly and has built a nursery stock base covering an area of more than 4,000 mu (267 hectares), which is considered an important means of protecting the environment in Zhangjiagang," Wu added.

The village has also explored ways to promote the development of a new countryside. It is focusing on the integrated development of urban and rural areas, and has set up economic cooperatives to develop and strengthen the collective economy.

In addition, Yonglian attaches great importance to the protection of the Yangtze River's natural environment. It has established a goal of promoting the village as an "attractive" place with distinct Jiangnan characteristics.

Yonglian has adhered to the philosophy of "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets" for the past several years, and has taken an active role in facilitating the development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt by promoting well-coordinated environmental conservation efforts and avoiding irresponsible development models.