Wen Jiabao (C), Chinese Premier and member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, inspects a field in Hongguang town, Helan county, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Aug. 15, 2008. Wen is inspecting in the region that is to celebrate its 50th anniversary on this Oct. 25. [Xinhua Photo]

The environment must remain a top priority as the country forges ahead in its development, Premier Wen Jiabao said during a visit to an industrial base in the Ningxia Hui autonomous region over the weekend.

Wen cited the coal-rich Ning Dong industrial area, earmarked to become a major power-generation base, as one example under the ongoing green drive.

"We will not only build a coal, chemical, and power base, but also develop a recycling base here," Wen said while visiting the Ning Dong Energy and Chemical Industrial Base.

The premier's three-day visit, starting last Friday, came two months before the 50th anniversary of the founding of the autonomous region, which took place on Oct 23, 1958.

Lying about 60 km to the southeast of Yinchuan, Ningxia's capital, the construction of the Ning Dong base was named the region's "No 1 project" in 2003, with its largest power base situated in the area.

Explored coal reserves in Ningxia are reportedly 31 billion tons alone, while estimated coal reserves are 200.7 billion tons, ranking sixth and fifth, respectively, in the country.

While Ning Dong' explored coal reserves form 88 percent of the region's total, the large supplies have also posed a major challenge to environmental