Green light for pursuit of sustainable development

China's State Council Information Office released a white paper titled "China's Green Development in the New Era" on Thursday.

The white paper aims to present a full picture of China's ideas, actions and achievements in green development in the new era, and to share with the world the country's experience in this regard.

Green development promotes the harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature. It seeks to obtain the maximum social and economic benefits at the minimum cost of resources and environmental impacts. It is sustainable and high-quality development that not only recognizes the value of the ecology and the environment but its vulnerability to over-exploitation.

Over the past 10 years, China has firmly upheld the belief that lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets. The people-centered philosophy is a governing principle of the country, and a sound ecological environment is the fairest public good and the most inclusive public benefit.

China has prioritized conservation and green development awareness, promoted the comprehensive green transformation of economic and social development, and achieved modernization based on seeking harmony between humanity and nature.

In that process, the country has applied a systematic approach to the whole process of economic and social development. It has taken a sound approach to the relationships between development and conservation, between overall and local interests, and between the present and the future.

It has taken a scientific, moderate and orderly approach to the use of geographical area, and promoted a sound economic structure that facilitates green, low-carbon, and circular development. It has fostered an institutional system that combines both constraints and incentives to coordinate industrial restructuring, pollution control, ecological conservation, environmental protection and the response to climate change.

China has endeavored to cut carbon emissions, reduce pollution, expand green development, and pursue economic growth. It has prioritized conserving resources and using them efficiently and is accelerating its low-carbon transition. It has developed spatial configurations, industrial structures, and ways of work and life that help conserve resources and protect the environment, and promoted greener economic and social development in all respects.

These are all valuable experience China has explored for the rest of the world, particularly the developing countries. China will keep to the path of green development, continue to build an ecological civilization, and strive to realize development with a higher level of quality, efficiency, equity, sustainability and security.