It is critical to control soil erosion and improve the ecosystem along the Yangtze River, the country's longest waterway, said an adviser to the central government yesterday.

"It's a long-term objective in China's modernization drive to preserve the Yangtze ecosystem and curb pollution along its drainage," said Chen Zongxing, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, China's top advisory body.

At least 660,000 square kilometers or 36.7 percent of the Yangtze River drainage area suffers soil erosion, said Chen, also vice president of the Central Committee of the Chinese Peasants and Workers Democratic Party.

"In 2003, an average of 30,000 tons of sewage was poured into the river every minute," Chen said, citing the result of a survey his party conducted together with the CPPCC Committee of Population, Resources and Environment last year.

Ecological deterioration has endangered many aquatic animals, including Chinese sturgeons and white-flag dolphins - the world's rarest dolphin - according to the survey.

Chen proposed a national committee be established and dedicated to the preservation of the Yangtze's ecology. He also wants a special law on ecological conservation be formulated so that environmental protection departments have more power to enforce the law.

"Local governments and businesses in the Yangtze Delta should seek sustainable development, improve cost-effectiveness and minimize pollution," he said, adding it's also important to step up technological innovation and translate more research findings into ecological conservation work. He also suggested the government increase investment in Yangtze River ecological conservation.

(Xinhua News Agency March 10, 2005)