Chinese President Xi Jinping is calling for greater protection of the Yellow River. Speaking at an event in Zhengzhou, capital of central China's Henan Province, President Xi stressed that protecting the ecology of the Yellow River should be a priority in economic development. He also said the cultures of the Yellow River Basin should be protected. For many Chinese, the waterway is much more than just a body of water, as it's often called the birthplace of the Chinese civilization. President Xi's remarks come amid years of efforts to restore the environment along the Yellow River and improve the lives of the mostly rural residents who depend on it. Xi noted the river's important role in the battle against poverty, as well as in ensuring drinking water supplies and controlling floods.