Global Times: Heated discussions on 'Beautiful China' at two sessions highlight Xi's concept of 'green GDP'

BEIJING, March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- When it comes to ecological and environmental protection, it is essential to take into account the overall interests, the long-term interests, and the comprehensive interests.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has emphasized the importance of keeping an ecological account in mind in decision-making on many occasions.

During the national two sessions in 2021, lawmaker Zhou Yizhe from North China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region shared with the delegation his personal story of transforming from a logger to a forest ranger, as the tree plantation where he worked had abandoned timber production to engage in environmental protection, according to Xinhua News Agency.

Zhou said the plantation has become a habitat to more wild animals, and the ecosystem in the forests and wetlands has become a source of wealth.

"Your identity shift from a logger to a forest ranger epitomizes our country's transformation in industrial structures," Xi said after hearing Zhou's story.

Highlighting the concept of "green GDP," Xi said that maintaining a good ecological environment is of enormous value.

Environmental issues have always been a hot topic at annual national two sessions. 

When asked about the work carried out over the past year regarding the construction of a "Beautiful China," Liu Jieyi, spokesperson for the third session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee, stated that the CPPCC National Committee places great importance on ecological and environmental protection. For the first time, this session established an environment and resources sector, bringing together political advisors, scientific experts, and entrepreneurs from fields such as ecology, environmental protection, and energy. 

Bearing in mind the earnest instructions given by Xi during last year's two sessions, they have focused on strategic, overarching, and forward-looking issues in building a "Beautiful China," as well as ecological and environmental concerns widely shared by the public. Through in-depth consultations, discussions, and democratic oversight, they have achieved positive results.

Focusing on green and low-carbon high-quality development as a fundamental strategy, the CPPCC National Committee has vigorously promoted green production and lifestyles, deepened consensus on the transformation of enterprises, and facilitated the green upgrading of industries, Liu said.

Battles against pollution

On a typical sunny March day in Beijing in 2024, Xi walked into a room filled with national political advisors, continuing a decade-old tradition of engaging in discussions on critical issues that shape the country's development and impact people's lives, according to Xinhua.

This year, air quality was on the agenda.

Xi recalled frequent sandstorms in Beijing during his childhood, which would leave a layer of dust on the floor if windows were left open for a day. Reflecting on those dusty days, Xi humorously remarked, "It wasn't PM2.5 back then, it was 'PM250,'" drawing laughter from those present, the Xinhua report said. 

Talking to the political advisors, Xi also mentioned "APEC blue," a term coined to describe the clear skies in Beijing during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) China 2014 summit.

In November 2014, while addressing the visiting APEC leaders, Xi directly responded to views labeling "APEC blue" as temporary, expressing his hope and determination that "with persistent efforts, the 'APEC blue' will be here to stay."

During the national two sessions in the past decade, the Chinese leader has repeatedly emphasized the need to win the battles against air, water and soil pollution.

Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in 2012, intensive efforts have been made across all regions, sectors, and stages, marking major progress in building a "Beautiful China." By 2024, the three battles had yielded remarkable results. 

"Over the past year, the proportion of days with good air quality nationwide reached 87.2 percent, the proportion of surface water sections with excellent water quality hit 90.4 percent, forest coverage exceeded 25 percent, and China's artificial forest area ranked first globally, making it the country with the largest increase in green coverage worldwide," Liu, the spokesperson, noted.

"At no time should we take hasty and reckless actions, drain the pond to catch the fish, or focus only on GDP growth," Xi said while attending a discussion with deputies from Jiangsu in March 2023, citing the example of Taihu Lake, China's third-largest freshwater lake, which is in the lower Yangtze River region. 

The discharge of industrial and domestic waste caused serious pollution in Taihu, and it took great efforts to rectify the situation, Xi noted.

"We say that lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets, but if we fail to protect the ecology, we will end up with losses rather than benefits," Xi said.

Substantial advancements have been achieved in treating Taihu, and the Taihu region has served as a prime example demonstrating that economic development and environmental conservation can go hand in hand without contradiction.

The "ecological account" has seen concrete manifestations.

Toward 'dual carbon' goals

In speeches at international events, during inspection tours across the country or deliberation with fellow lawmakers at the two sessions, Xi has consistently signaled that the dual carbon goals are high on the policy agenda.

Joining discussions with fellow lawmakers from Inner Mongolia in March 2022, Xi said that China's carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals necessitated both active and prudent efforts, according to Xinhua.

"Green transition takes time and cannot be achieved overnight," Xi said in the discussions, cautioning against campaign-style carbon reductions and "a sudden brake."

Since announcing in 2019 it would peak CO2 emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060, China has made substantial efforts to pursue greener development, including starting a national carbon market and putting a stop to building new coal-fired power projects overseas.

By the end of 2024, China's renewable energy capacity reached 1.889 billion kilowatts, accounting for over half of the total, surging by nearly 960 million kilowatts since the end of 2020. Wind and solar power capacity exceeded 1.4 billion kilowatts, while the country has 102 operational and approved nuclear power units, with a capacity of 113 million kilowatts, China Electric Power News reported.

Lu Tiezhong, chairman of China National Nuclear Power Co Ltd (CNNC) and a CPPCC National Committee member, told the Global Times that apart from helping to reduce carbon emissions, the company's non-nuclear clean energy projects had also created significant social benefits. 

For example, the Altash water conservancy project in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region has greatly improved residents' living standards. In Tongxin, Northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, the corporation has developed a "solar plus geothermal" heating model for farmers, providing convenience for residents' daily lives. 

This year, Lu proposed incorporating nuclear power into the green electricity and green certification system.

As a stable and reliable source of high-quality green low-carbon electricity, nuclear power has the lowest lifecycle carbon emissions among all types of power generation, Lu said. "If the positioning of nuclear power in the green electricity and green certificate market can be further clarified, it will ensure the sustainable development of nuclear power and help meet the dual demands of energy security and energy transition."

A 'red line' to hold

While meeting national political advisors, including those from the sector of environment and resources, during the two sessions in 2024, Xi said that "the CPC Central Committee always attaches great importance to environmental protection." 

He emphasized the need to secure red lines in the development and protection of territorial space, and improve the region-specific environmental management system to further consolidate the ecological foundations of high-quality development, according to Xinhua report.

The ecological red line also comes with an "account book."

China has led the world in establishing an ecological protection red line system, designating areas critical for ecological functions, highly fragile ecosystems and regions with significant ecological potential. Covering at least 3.15 million square kilometers - 3 million on land and 0.15 million in marine areas - these red lines enforce strict rules to safeguard vital ecological spaces, forming the foundation for sustainable development, the People's Daily reported in 2023.

In May 2023, at a World Earth Day event in Fuzhou, Fujian, China's Ministry of Natural Resources announced the completion of the red line delineation.

To enforce it, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment introduced a database with five catalogues of the "account book" - ecological area, type, function, management, and metrics - ensuring effective oversight at all levels.

Nowadays, in Anji county, East China's Zhejiang Province, scenes of bamboo forests, fresh air, flowing streams and tourists enjoying the landscape are now common. 

"The red line area covers 14 zones, nearly one-fifth of the county," Zhang Yi, head of Anji's resource planning bureau, was quoted by the People's Daily as saying in 2023.

Today, Anji has become a symbol of the concept that "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets." Visitors here enjoy the beauty of nature on its green grasslands, among its bamboo forests and in its cozy cafes. 

Through the transformation of ecological resource value and policy support in the past years, Anji has not only improved residents' income levels, but also successfully attracted a large number of young talents to return to their hometowns to start businesses and find jobs, providing support for rural revitalization and urban-rural integrated development.

https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202503/1329570.shtml

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SOURCE Global Times