Theoretical Reflection on Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological …
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mechanisms as well as institutions and non-governmental organizations supporting
international cooperation on the environment front.
China is a major contributor to the building and progress of the international
environment and development cause. It is also an active participant in global environmental governance. China made substantial contributions and reaped benefits as
well. Since the introduction of the reform and opening up policy in 1978, through
bilateral and multilateral mechanisms, China has benefited a lot as it learned from the
policies regarding environment management and sustainable development, borrowed
experience, attracted investment, brought in technologies and have its people trained
from the outside world. It played an important role in advancing China’s environmental protection and sustainable development, promoting related legislation and
the formation of management policies, and enhancing technical capabilities.
As China emerged as a leading country in terms of economic and comprehensive
strengths, it has moved to a position like never before in the international community.
China’s position and role in the international environment and development cause and
global environmental governance system also changed fundamentally. The change
means that starting from active participation, China is now leading the cause; starting
from aligning itself with international standards, it is now contributing institutional
innovations; starting from observing the rules, it is now upholding and making the
rules; and starting from bringing in various factors, it is now going out with what it
can offer.
At such a critical and historic moment, Xi, a man with a global vision and a broad
mind, put forth the idea of building a community with a shared future for mankind.
Jointly working towards a global ecological civilization is a concrete embodiment
of the idea. As early as in 2013, Xi noted that environmental protection, response to
climate change and energy security are common challenges facing the world. China
is ready to continue assuming its international obligations, conduct exchanges and
cooperation with other countries in building an ecological civilization, and make
sure that the benefits of such endeavors are shared by all. China is also willing to
join hands with the world to build a beautiful planet. At the 70th session of the
UN General Assembly in 2015, Xi said, “to build a sound environment is vital for
mankind’s future. All members of the international community should work together
to build a sound global eco-environment.” These are not just empty worlds, but what
China has done. In 2015, without China’s leading contributions, the Paris Agreement
would not be reached. Over the last five years since the Belt and Road Initiative was
proposed and implemented, green development has become a basic principle for
related practice and lead to substantial progress in many areas.
In modernizing a country with a large population of over 10 billion at such a high
speed within such a short period of time, China faced greater pressure from natural
resources and the environment than any other country. In building an ecological
civilization, China needs cooperation with the international community. Meanwhile,
its efforts to advance ecological progress are a demonstration that may help with
global sustainable development. At the National Conference on Eco-environmental
Protection, Xi stressed, “joint efforts must be made in building a global ecological
civilization. We must be deeply involved in global environmental governance, create
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mechanisms as well as institutions and non-governmental organizations supporting
international cooperation on the environment front.
China is a major contributor to the building and progress of the international
environment and development cause. It is also an active participant in global environmental governance. China made substantial contributions and reaped benefits as
well. Since the introduction of the reform and opening up policy in 1978, through
bilateral and multilateral mechanisms, China has benefited a lot as it learned from the
policies regarding environment management and sustainable development, borrowed
experience, attracted investment, brought in technologies and have its people trained
from the outside world. It played an important role in advancing China’s environmental protection and sustainable development, promoting related legislation and
the formation of management policies, and enhancing technical capabilities.
As China emerged as a leading country in terms of economic and comprehensive
strengths, it has moved to a position like never before in the international community.
China’s position and role in the international environment and development cause and
global environmental governance system also changed fundamentally. The change
means that starting from active participation, China is now leading the cause; starting
from aligning itself with international standards, it is now contributing institutional
innovations; starting from observing the rules, it is now upholding and making the
rules; and starting from bringing in various factors, it is now going out with what it
can offer.
At such a critical and historic moment, Xi, a man with a global vision and a broad
mind, put forth the idea of building a community with a shared future for mankind.
Jointly working towards a global ecological civilization is a concrete embodiment
of the idea. As early as in 2013, Xi noted that environmental protection, response to
climate change and energy security are common challenges facing the world. China
is ready to continue assuming its international obligations, conduct exchanges and
cooperation with other countries in building an ecological civilization, and make
sure that the benefits of such endeavors are shared by all. China is also willing to
join hands with the world to build a beautiful planet. At the 70th session of the
UN General Assembly in 2015, Xi said, “to build a sound environment is vital for
mankind’s future. All members of the international community should work together
to build a sound global eco-environment.” These are not just empty worlds, but what
China has done. In 2015, without China’s leading contributions, the Paris Agreement
would not be reached. Over the last five years since the Belt and Road Initiative was
proposed and implemented, green development has become a basic principle for
related practice and lead to substantial progress in many areas.
In modernizing a country with a large population of over 10 billion at such a high
speed within such a short period of time, China faced greater pressure from natural
resources and the environment than any other country. In building an ecological
civilization, China needs cooperation with the international community. Meanwhile,
its efforts to advance ecological progress are a demonstration that may help with
global sustainable development. At the National Conference on Eco-environmental
Protection, Xi stressed, “joint efforts must be made in building a global ecological
civilization. We must be deeply involved in global environmental governance, create
