Abstract: This paper analyzes the main problems of development and protection of water resources in Yangtze River and new requirements under the background of Yangtze River Economic Belt and Yangtze River protection in new era. The results show that correctly grasping the relationship between water resources development and protection, water environment treatment and socio-economic development is the key to coordinate the relationship between Yangtze River Economic Belt and Yangtze River protection. This paper puts forward the idea of co-governance (water resources, water environment, water ecology and water disaster) and setting water environment improvement as the breakthrough point. The countermeasures and suggestions for the development and protection of water resources in the Yangtze River by combining management, technology, economy and law, culture are also proposed.