Xi Jinping: Efforts to Build a Modernization of Harmonious Coexistence between Man and Nature

Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, we have strengthened the party's overall leadership over the construction of ecological civilization, placed the construction of ecological civilization in a prominent position in the overall work, and made a series of major strategic deployments. In the overall layout of "five in one", the construction of ecological civilization is one of them; in the basic strategy of adhering to and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era, adhering to the harmonious coexistence of man and nature is one of them; in the new development concept, green is one of them; in the three major battles, pollution prevention and control is one of them; in the goal of building a socialist modern power by the middle of this century, Beautiful China is one. This fully reflects our understanding of the importance of ecological civilization construction and clarifies the important position of ecological civilization construction in the overall development of the party and the country.
 

We have comprehensively strengthened the construction of ecological civilization, systematically planned the reform of the ecological civilization system, integrated management of mountains, rivers, forests, fields, lakes, grass and sand, and carried out a series of fundamental, pioneering, and long-term work. The determination, strength, and effectiveness are unprecedented. The construction of civilization has undergone historic, turning, and overall changes from recognition to practice. I have successively given instructions and instructions on typical cases such as ecological destruction in the Qilian Mountains in Gansu, illegal construction of villas at the northern foot of the Qinling Mountains in Shaanxi, and illegal mining in the Muli mining area in Qinghai. The relevant localities and departments have seriously investigated and punished a number of dereliction of duty and dereliction of duty. In the past 9 years, the blue sky and white clouds have been re-revealed, the green map has continued to expand, the green economy has accelerated development, energy consumption and material consumption have continued to decrease, heavy smoke and haze have been effectively suppressed, black and smelly water bodies have been significantly reduced, the urban and rural environment has become more livable, and the construction of a beautiful China has taken solid steps. The concept that green water and green mountains are golden mountains and silver mountains has become the consensus and actions of the whole society. According to NASA satellite data, between 2000 and 2017, about 1/4 of the world's new green area came from China. China leads the global climate change negotiation process, actively promotes the signing, entry into force and implementation of the Paris Agreement, and announces that carbon dioxide emissions will peak by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060. The achievements of China's ecological civilization construction have also been widely recognized by the international community.
Practice shows that ecological environmental protection and economic development are dialectically unified and complementary. Building ecological civilization and promoting green and low-carbon circular development can not only meet the people's growing needs for a beautiful ecological environment, but also promote the realization of higher quality, more efficient, fairer, more sustainable and safer development, and embark on a civilized development path of production development, affluent life and good ecology.
The restoration and improvement of the ecological environment is a process that requires long-term hard work. It cannot be accomplished overnight. It must be persistent and vigorous. At present, my country's ecological civilization construction is still facing many contradictions and challenges. The foundation for the stability and improvement of the ecological environment is not stable. The turning point from quantitative change to qualitative change has not yet arrived. The quality of the ecological environment is compared with the people's expectations for a better life. Compared with the goal of building a beautiful China, there is still a big gap compared with the requirements of building a new development pattern, promoting high-quality development, and comprehensively building a modern socialist country. There is a process of industrial structure adjustment in China. The proportion of traditional industries is still high. Strategic emerging industries and high-tech industries have not yet grown into the leading force of economic growth. The energy structure has not been fundamentally changed. The pollution problems in key regions and industries have not been fundamentally solved. The task of achieving carbon peak and carbon neutrality is arduous, and the pressure on development from resources and environment is increasing. Promoting green and low-carbon development is the international trend and the general trend, and the green economy has become the commanding height of global industrial competition. Some Western countries play the "environmental card" against our country and put pressure on our country in many ways. The game of great powers around ecological and environmental issues is very fierce.


 

Reprinted from: Xinhua