
The construction of an ecological civilization is the foundation for human survival and development and occupies an important position in the overall construction of socialism with Chinese characteristics.
This was the consensus announced in the Huzhou initiative at the 3rd Western Returned Scholars Association (WRSA) international think tank forum with the theme of Chinese path to modernization: Green ecology and sustainable development organized in the Huzhou city of Hangzhou province of China.
The speech at the forum by Ding Zhongli, Vice chairman of the standing committee of the National People’s Congress, president of WRSA also showed that the construction of an ecological civilization is a fundamental strategy with a direct bearing on the sustainable development of the Chinese nation.
The learning from the forum for the international community was the basic highlight and it was briefed that in August 2005, China’s president Xi Jinping then secretary of the Zhejiang provincial party committee, raised for the first the development philosophy of “lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets” when he was on an inspection tour to Yucun village in Anji county of Zhejiang province.
It was also highlighted in the forum that in September 2013, Xi Jinping when answering questions from students from Kazakhstan’s Nazarbayev University, further expounded the theory of “lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets”: “We want lucid waters and green mountains, but also want mountains of gold and silver. It is better to have lucid waters and green mountains than mountains of gold and silver. To some extent, lucid waters and green mountains are exactly mountains of gold and silver.” In October 2017, “we must realize that lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets and act on this understanding” was written in the report of the 19th National Congress of Communist Party of China (CPC).
The concept of “lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets” embodies profound dialectical thinking and clearly– defined values. On the one hand, the ecological environment is the preconditions and foundation for supporting and preserving the biosystem. When economic development comes into conflict with the environmental protection, the ecological environment should not be sacrificed for economic development. On the other hand, lucid waters and green mountains are not only natural treasures, but also social treasures and economic fortunes.
With the continuous improvements of the quality of the ecological environment and the steady increase in caring capacity, through the development of ecological industries, which ecological resources can be transformed into high value – added ecological products.
It’s safe to say that protecting the ecological environment is to protect productivity, and improving the ecological environment is to develop productivity. In 2019, Xi Jinping pointed out at the opening ceremony of international horticultural exhibition in Beijing, “we need to pursue prosperity through green development. Green is the color of nature. I have always said that green mountains and lucid waters are indeed mountains of gold and silver, and that environmental improvement means greater productivity. A sound environment promises great economic potential, generates good returns, and contributes to economic and social sustainability.”
Now a days, the concept “lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets” has become the consensus and action plan in the society, and China has become cleaner and more beautiful in the new era. The Yuncun village in Anji county, Zhejiang province, where the concept was first raised by Xi Jinping, has become a 4-A level tourist attraction.
The former site of a cement plant, which was relocated, was reclaimed and turned into the green farmland, and the more than 5,00 mu (34 hectares) of farmland contracted to the village was turned into filed of rapeseed flowers and lotus ponds.
In 2019, Yucun village achieved a regional total output value of nearly 276 million RMB, farmers’ per-capita net income was 49, 598 RMB, the collective assets owned by the village were valued at more than 20 million RMB, and the revenue of the village’s collective economy was 45.21 million RMB.
In March 2020, Xi Jinping revisited Yucun village during his inspection tour, and made the following statement: “practice has proved that the economy should not be developed at the cost of destroying the environment. The ecology itself means the economy, and to protect the environment is to protect the productivity.”
In order to provide more high-quality ecological products and to meet the people’s growing needs for a beautiful ecological environment, the Chinese government implemented the people-centered philosophy for development, insist on the philosophy of prevention first and comprehensive treatment, strengthen the prevention and treatment of water, atmospheric and soil pollution , gave priority to promoting the prevention and treatment of water pollution in major river basins and regions, atmospheric pollution in major industries and key regions as well as comprehensive treatment of heavy metals pollution and soil pollution, and focused on solving acute environmental problems that harm the health of the people, such as pollution caused by fine particulate matters, waste , toxic soil, heavy metals, and chemicals.
All these are meant for the purpose that people can breath fresh air, drink clean water, eat safe foods and live in a livable environment and enjoy the environmental benefits brought by the economic development. The Chinese government upholds the approach of green development for prosperity and wealth, implement the strategy of ecological protection and natural recovery, and works to improve the vegetarian coverage.
In recent years, people have realized that rural and urban areas had more days with blue skies, the rivers have become crystal and clear, cities have become greener, and the environment has become more beautiful. Blue skies and white clouds, twinkling stars, lucid waters and green river banks, freely swimming fish, flowers and chirping birds, picturesque fields. all of these form a beautiful environment. People eat safely and live in a safe environment and their happiness grows day by day.
The author is a director Asia Pacific affairs with BASTION (The center of Research and Development).