Achieving Harmony Between People and Nature

Preserving and protecting our natural environment is vital to the survival of our nation. It is important to understand that “green mountains are gold mountains,” and this understanding must be put into practice. As part of our basic national policy, we will step up efforts to conserve resources and protect the environment in the same manner as we protect our own lives. A holistic approach is critical to conservation programs aimed at protecting our mountains, rivers, forests, farmlands, lakes, and grasslands. Most stringent measures are necessary for fragile ecosystems. We will be unwavering in our pursuit of green development to ensure that economic growth and prosperity will not come at the expense of the environment. Environmental considerations will always inform our development efforts. We will continue to implement the Beautiful China initiative and create a better working and living environment for our people. In doing so, we are also contributing to global ecological security.

To achieve harmony between man and nature, we need to ensure the provision of more quality ecological goods and create a beautiful environment that our people crave, in addition to creating more material and cultural wealth to meet their ever-increasing needs for a better life. Specific initiatives include resource conservation, and special protection and conservation measures aimed at helping nature restore itself. An integrated approach is needed to align resource conservation and environmental protection measures with efforts to readjust the economic structure and change the existing production and consumption patterns, so as to restore nature’s serenity, harmony, and beauty. To this end, we will continue to promote green development, tackle thorny environmental issues, strengthen protection for ecosystems, and reform environmental regulatory mechanisms.