Lishui city in East China's Zhejiang province boasts increased environmental protection. [Photo/VCG] 

The city of Lishui in East China's Zhejiang province reported its significant achievements over the past seven decades since the founding of the People's Republic of China, at a news conference in Hangzhou on Sept 4.

Lishui covers an area of 17,300 square kilometers and it has a population of 2.7 million.

Statistics showed that from 1949 to 2018, the regional GDP of the city grew from 79 million yuan ($11.03 million) to 139.46 billion yuan, a 1,765-fold increase. Per-capita income of urban and rural residents rose by 140 and 152 times respectively, from 302 yuan and 131 yuan in 1978, to 42,557 yuan and 19,922 yuan last year.

"Today's Lishui has taken on a new look," said Hu Haifeng, Party chief of Lishui.

Lishui -- which literally means "beautiful water" in Chinese -- is well known for its natural landscape, which have won it the name of "Foliage Ocean of Zhejiang".

Seeing mountains and waters as a treasure trove, the city, one of the first national demonstration zones for ecological protection, has always put ecology in first place when seeking development.

Hu cited statistics from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, which revealed that the Gross Ecosystem Product in the city grew to 467.3 billion yuan in 2017 from 209.6 billion yuan in 2006, up 86.7 percent.

"In the new era, Lishui is ushering in an important juncture where there are more strategic opportunities," said the Party chief.

He stressed the importance of giving full play to the city's ecological advantages and urged it to pave a green and high-quality way for economic growth.