North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region will explore a new path of high-quality development that prioritizes environmental protection and green growth, said Shi Taifeng, Party secretary of the autonomous region, at the fourth session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing on March 5.

The autonomous region aims to become a significant ecological security barrier in North China, a security and stability barrier along the country's northern borders, a vital national energy and strategic resource base, and a production base for agricultural and livestock products.

It is expected to serve as an essential bridgehead for the country’s opening-up to the north.

To achieve these goals, Inner Mongolia will adjust and optimize the distribution of its population and productivity and improve the spatial distribution of land, industrial bases and the regional economy. It will also issue urban construction layout plans and policies and accelerate the formation of a spatial pattern, industrial structure, production model and lifestyle that conserves resources and protects the environment.

Inner Mongolia will regard the protection of grasslands and forests as the primary task of ecosystem protection and coordinate the management of landscapes, forests, fields, lakes and sand systems. It will continue to fight against pollution and restore damaged natural ecosystems with strong institutional constraints and critical measures.

Authorities in the autonomous region will implement the innovation-driven development strategy to improve the science and technology innovation system and enhance the level of science and technology innovation.

Officials will also focus on ensuring national ecological security, energy security, food security and other plans for industrial development to increase the intensive and deep processing of coal, rare earth minerals and other resources and boost the transformation of agriculture and animal husbandry.