How this concept changes China and leads the era

August 15 is the third National Ecology Day and also the twentieth anniversary of the proposal of the "Two Mountains" concept.

On this day 20 years ago, Comrade Xi Jinping, then Secretary of the Zhejiang Provincial Party Committee, visited Yucun in Anji for inspection and research, and first proposed the scientific assertion that "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets."

Following the scientific guidance of the "Two Mountains" concept, Yucun has changed beyond recognition, and China's beauty is evolving daily. As the core concept of Xi Jinping's thought on ecological civilization, the "Two Mountains" concept has not only profoundly changed China but also gathered consensus and pointed the way for global exploration of harmonious coexistence between humans and nature.

Cultural Heritage and People's Sentiment

The profound philosophy of protection and development contained in the "Two Mountains" concept has its origins.

In Liangjiahe, Shaanxi, limited conditions were used to build silt dams and biogas pools on the ecologically fragile Loess Plateau to improve living environments;

In Zhengding, Hebei, carrying a bicycle across the silt-filled Hutuo River, "At that time, I wanted to manage this Hutuo River, to prevent floods and build dams";

Scenery along the Hutuo River in Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province (drone photo). Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Mou Yu

In the land of Fujian, one cannot help but sigh, "I come from the north, and every blade of grass and stone in Xiamen feels precious to me";

By the Huangpu River, planning the "cage replacement" of Shanghai's industries, clearly pointing out that "industrial development should do 'addition', energy and resource consumption should do 'subtraction', and ecological environment protection must become a prerequisite for economic development."

Since the new era, General Secretary Xi Jinping's inspection and research footprints have covered the whole country, with "ecology" and "protection" always being high-frequency words, and the grand idea of the "Two Mountains" concept consistently upheld.

Scenery of Yucun, Anji County, Huzhou City, Zhejiang Province (drone photo). Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Mao Zhu

From a rural brigade youth to the highest leader of the Party and the country, Comrade Xi Jinping's affection for nature and the people has never changed and has grown deeper.

The "Two Mountains" concept and Xi Jinping's thought on ecological civilization, with it as the core, are vivid interpretations of the "two integrations."

The "Two Mountains" concept inherits and develops Marxist theory of "natural productive forces," contains and promotes excellent traditional Chinese culture, and profoundly reveals the internal laws and essential requirements of harmonious coexistence between humans and nature.

Guided by the "Two Mountains" concept, China unswervingly follows the path of green development, vigorously promotes innovation in ecological civilization theory, practice, and system, and drives historic, transformative, and overall changes in ecological environment protection.

Dialectical Thinking and Systematic Planning

An important orientation of the "Two Mountains" concept is to abandon development models that damage or even destroy the ecological environment and to reject short-sighted practices that sacrifice the environment for temporary development.

At the same time, it emphasizes that only by laying a good foundation of green development can future development advance rapidly.

General Secretary Xi Jinping profoundly pointed out, "We cannot build a modern country by following the old paths of Europe and America; even several Earths would not be enough for the consumption of the Chinese people," emphasizing that "we must calculate the big picture, the long-term, the overall, and the comprehensive accounts."

Ecological landscape of Yundang Lake and surrounding cities in Xiamen, Fujian Province (drone photo). Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Wei Peiquan

Following General Secretary Xi Jinping's guidance, China's mountains are greener, waters clearer, and homeland more beautiful. Forest coverage exceeds 25%; 90.4% of national surface water sections are of Class I to III quality; the average proportion of good air quality days in prefecture-level and above cities is 87.2%.

Forest landscape of Taolongshan Scenic Area in Yichun City, Heilongjiang Province (drone photo). Photo by Xinhua News Agency (photographer Gu Jingkun)

Of course, protecting lucid waters and lush mountains does not mean no development, but better development. The "Two Mountains" concept advocates turning green into gold, shaping new green momentum and advantages for economic development.

The "Two Mountains" concept vividly interprets the interdependent and unified relationship between ecological environment protection and economic development, becoming a new guide leading and promoting green development.

Innovation, Transformation, and Long-term Efforts

Protecting the ecological environment must rely on systems and the rule of law.

Revising and implementing the "strictest in history" Environmental Protection Law, issuing multiple ecological environment protection laws such as the Soil Pollution Prevention Law, Yangtze River Protection Law, Yellow River Protection Law, and Wetland Protection Law...

Since the new era, China's ecological environment legal construction has entered the "fast lane," demonstrating the Party Central Committee's determination to protect lucid waters and lush mountains with the strictest systems and most rigorous rule of law.

A cruise ship sailing in the Wuxia area of the Yangtze River (drone photo). Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Wang Quanchao

The "Two Mountains" concept belongs to China and the world.

In 2013, the United Nations Environment Programme Governing Council passed a draft decision to promote China's ecological civilization concept.

In 2016, the United Nations Environment Programme released the report "Lucid Waters and Lush Mountains Are Invaluable Assets: China's Ecological Civilization Strategy and Actions," promoting China's path to ecological civilization.

In 2018, after inspecting Zhejiang, then UN Deputy Secretary-General and UNEP Executive Director Erik Solheim highly praised the "Two Mountains" concept: "We hope to bring these experiences to countries around the world and inspire them to improve their ecological environments."

This is a photo taken on June 25, 2024, at the Shierek Wind Farm in Almaty Region, Kazakhstan. The Shierek Wind Power Project in Kazakhstan is a landmark project of the high-quality jointly built "Belt and Road" initiative between China and Kazakhstan. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Bai Xueqi

Andrew Schwartz, Vice President of the U.S. Ecological Civilization Research Institute, stated that on the path to promoting global ecological civilization transformation, China is becoming a leader. This leadership is timely, visionary, and inspiring.

In grand practice, the "Two Mountains" concept demonstrates powerful truth and practical strength.

Originating from China and facing the world, the "Two Mountains" concept guides the beautiful China dream of harmonious coexistence between humans and nature steadily becoming reality, and will surely make new contributions to building a community with a shared future for mankind and protecting our planet.

(Source: Xinhua News Agency)