Connotations of Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization
191
1. The unity between fostering ideas and improving institutions
Both ideas and institutions are important in achieving harmonious coexistence
between man and nature. Ideas guide actions. Institutions regulate actions. Both
should play their due role. In the report to the 19th CPC National Congress, Xi said,
“to ensure harmony between man and nature… we must realize that lucid waters
and lush mountains are invaluable assets and act on this understanding.” As early
as in 2005, Xi proposed the scientific thesis of lucid waters and lush mountains
being invaluable assets. The thesis highlights the value of nature. Natural ecology
has values. Preserving nature is improving and accruing natural assets, which is
protecting and developing productive forces. Notably, the value of nature is not
produced because of human activities, but is showed through human activities.
Different activities only change the way the nature’s value is reflected. In the industrial civilization, people chose extensive development and developed at the coast of
resources and the environment due to lack of knowledge and immature technology
among other social reasons. People at the time crudely exploited the environment
for material wealth. The old saying of relying on what people get in nature for a
living reflects such idea. To act on the principle of lucid waters and lush mountains
being invaluable assets, we must change our mindset and develop the technology.
On this basis, we must fundamentally change the way people treat nature. Rather
than selling minerals, we can turn the beautiful scenery to a source income. We
can preserve the environment and make the environment benefit us financially in a
sustainable manner.
New ideas cannot be fostered overnight. To make ecological preservation hold
great appeal among the public, continuous efforts should be made. At present, it
is imperative to speed up ecological building. Institutions should play a supportive
role at the critical moment. The report to the 18th CPC National Congress said
environmental protection must rely on institutions. The third plenary session of the
18th CPC Central Committee stressed that a systematic and complete system should
be put in place for building an ecological civilization. The report to the 19th CPC
National Congress elaborated efforts to deepen the system for building an ecological
civilization to realize a beautiful China initiative. The strictest possible system for
ecological protection should be established and implemented, and the supporting
mechanisms for the system for building an ecological civilization should be put in
place so that strong institutional safeguard can be provided to ensure the harmony
between man and nature.
2. Unity between economic development and ecological protection
To deliver on the two centenary goals, realize the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation, and steadily improve people’s lives, we must continue to pursue development as
the Party’s top priority in governance; we must unleash and development productive
forces. China has far overtaken Japan in terms of GDP and consolidated its position
as the second largest economy. Contributing more than 30% of the world’s economy,
China is the first engine for global economic growth. The reason lies in the fact that
China has been making development a top priority. As socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a new era, the principal contradiction facing Chinese society
191
1. The unity between fostering ideas and improving institutions
Both ideas and institutions are important in achieving harmonious coexistence
between man and nature. Ideas guide actions. Institutions regulate actions. Both
should play their due role. In the report to the 19th CPC National Congress, Xi said,
“to ensure harmony between man and nature… we must realize that lucid waters
and lush mountains are invaluable assets and act on this understanding.” As early
as in 2005, Xi proposed the scientific thesis of lucid waters and lush mountains
being invaluable assets. The thesis highlights the value of nature. Natural ecology
has values. Preserving nature is improving and accruing natural assets, which is
protecting and developing productive forces. Notably, the value of nature is not
produced because of human activities, but is showed through human activities.
Different activities only change the way the nature’s value is reflected. In the industrial civilization, people chose extensive development and developed at the coast of
resources and the environment due to lack of knowledge and immature technology
among other social reasons. People at the time crudely exploited the environment
for material wealth. The old saying of relying on what people get in nature for a
living reflects such idea. To act on the principle of lucid waters and lush mountains
being invaluable assets, we must change our mindset and develop the technology.
On this basis, we must fundamentally change the way people treat nature. Rather
than selling minerals, we can turn the beautiful scenery to a source income. We
can preserve the environment and make the environment benefit us financially in a
sustainable manner.
New ideas cannot be fostered overnight. To make ecological preservation hold
great appeal among the public, continuous efforts should be made. At present, it
is imperative to speed up ecological building. Institutions should play a supportive
role at the critical moment. The report to the 18th CPC National Congress said
environmental protection must rely on institutions. The third plenary session of the
18th CPC Central Committee stressed that a systematic and complete system should
be put in place for building an ecological civilization. The report to the 19th CPC
National Congress elaborated efforts to deepen the system for building an ecological
civilization to realize a beautiful China initiative. The strictest possible system for
ecological protection should be established and implemented, and the supporting
mechanisms for the system for building an ecological civilization should be put in
place so that strong institutional safeguard can be provided to ensure the harmony
between man and nature.
2. Unity between economic development and ecological protection
To deliver on the two centenary goals, realize the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation, and steadily improve people’s lives, we must continue to pursue development as
the Party’s top priority in governance; we must unleash and development productive
forces. China has far overtaken Japan in terms of GDP and consolidated its position
as the second largest economy. Contributing more than 30% of the world’s economy,
China is the first engine for global economic growth. The reason lies in the fact that
China has been making development a top priority. As socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a new era, the principal contradiction facing Chinese society