@@The Yangtze River, the largest river in China and the third largest in the world, is not merely the nurturing cradle of the splendid Chinese Civilization, but also the crucial lifeline of the sustainable socio-economic development of China. The Yangtze River basin, with an area of one fifth of the nation's territory, is home to one third of the nation's population; produces one third of national grain yield; and contributes one third of the nation's GDP. It has become one of the regions in China with the biggest potential of economic growth. The Yangtze River Basin also possesses roughly 1/3 of China's water resources, 3/5 of China's exploitable hydropower potential and half of China's total mileage of inland navigation waterways. It has been highlighted as the strategic sources of China's water and energy, the Golden Waterway linking the Eastern, Central and Western parts of China, and the sanctuary for rare species of aquatic wildlife. To better protect, manage and develop the Yangtze River is critical to the well being of over 400 million inhabitants in the Basin and to China's socio-economy as a whole.
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