Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, inspects ecological preservation of the Qinling Mountains in Niubeiliang National Nature Reserve in Zhashui county, Shangluo city, northwest China's Shannxi province, April 20, 2020. (XU PENG / XINHUA)

BEIJING - Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said on Monday e-commerce is an emerging business with great potential, which can promote sales of agricultural products, help rural residents shake off poverty and facilitate rural vitalization.

Xi made the remarks during his inspection tour in the village of Jinmi in Zhashui County, northwest China's Shaanxi province.

Xi also urged local officials to be guardians of the ecological environment of the Qinling Mountains 

Located in the Qinling Mountains, the village has shaken off poverty in recent years by developing the black fungus industry.

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At the village's training center, Xi chatted amiably with villagers who were preparing for livestreaming marketing of their agricultural products. 

Guardians of ecological environment

Xi also urged local officials to be guardians of the ecological environment of the Qinling Mountains while visiting Niubeiliang National Nature Reserve and listening to the situation of ecological conservation during his tour. 

"The illegal construction in the Qinling Mountains is a big lesson," he said. "From now on, any official working in Shaanxi should above all learn this lesson, avoid repeating the same mistake and work as a guardian of the ecological environment of the Qinling Mountains."

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As a natural boundary between the country's north and south, the Qinling Mountains are home to a huge variety of plants and rare wildlife such as giant pandas, golden monkeys and crested ibis. 

Attaching great importance to the environmental protection of the Qinling Mountains, Xi had made six instructions on tackling the illegal construction of villas in the Qinling Mountains, demanding a thorough investigation into the persistent problem of illegal construction and the failure of officials concerned to comply with orders from the central authorities.

After July 2018, more than 1,100 illegal villas at the northern foot of Qinling range were demolished according to law and a number of officials concerned were investigated for disciplinary and law violations, among China's efforts to preserve both the natural beauty of mountains and waters and the political integrity of officials, which are championed by Xi.