When visiting Ningxia Forestry Institute (Ltd..Co.), Hu was briefed by researchers on growing salt-proof and drought-resistant plants with bio-technology, plants that suited the local environment. Hu called on the scientific institute to make contributions to local ecological and environmental protection.

He praised a diary farm for setting up corporatives and pooling funds for local diary farmers to expand production and earn more.

In his visit to a dam on the Yellow River, Hu stressed infrastructure construction so as to protect local people from floods.

The Xinghai Lake wetland reserve in Shizuishan City used to be severely polluted. After years of ecological protection, the wetland reverted to be a paradise of birds.

When visiting the wet land reserve, Hu said, ecological and environmental protection must be the priority. He called on efforts of Ningxia to improve its own environment and to help build an ecological safety-net for the entire western region.

(Xinhua News Agency March 23, 2010)