Theoretical Character and Practical Guidance of Xi Jinping …
233
assertion that “protecting and improving the eco-environment is protecting and developing productivity,” which is a major innovation of the productivity theory. He also
generalized the dialectical unity between economic development and environmental
protection. “Lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets,” “a sound ecoenvironment is the most equitable public product and most inclusive wellbeing of
the people”… these statements make it clear that environmental protection doesn’t
necessarily come at the expense of economic development. Ecological progress can
benefit the mankind by generating immense ecological, economic and social benefits. Elevating eco-civilization to a political height, General Secretary Xi Jinping said
“developing eco-civilization meets the public expectation and improves livelihood,”
and “the people look forward to the accelerated improvement of eco-environmental
quality. We should actively respond to what they think and expect, strongly promote
ecological progress, and provide more quality ecological products to keep meeting
their ever-growing needs for a beautiful environment.” He creatively regarded ecological progress as an important way to resolve the principal contradiction in the current
Chinese society and to lead the country and the people to strength and affluence.
This is a vivid illustration of his thought on green state governance and ecological
outlook on livelihood.
3. Eco-civilization expands the strategic horizon of eco-environmental protection
The eco-environment is a compound system comprising man, nature and society,
in which any change relates to the whole system. Therefore, we have to protect the
eco-environment at root instead of only addressing the symptoms. General Secretary
Xi Jinping pointed out that environmental governance is a systematic program, so
we have to carry out the key tasks of eco-civilization development following a corresponding thought, namely ecological progress should be embedded in all aspects
and the whole process of economic, political, cultural and social advancement. Ecocivilization is the summation of the material, cultural and institutional attainments
that man has achieved in civilization development. As an advanced state of civilization, eco-civilization is the consummation and crystallization through the evolution
of primitive, agricultural and industrial civilization. General Secretary Xi Jinping also
put forth the innovative thought of “community of life” on the eco-environmental
front. “The lifeline of humans rests with farmlands, that of farmlands with water,
that of water with mountains, that of mountains with earth, and that of earth with
forests and grasslands”—the word “lifeline” highlights the interdependence among
the factors. The factor of “grassland” was added at the 19th CPC National Congress,
thus giving rise to the concept that “mountains, rivers, forests, lakes, farmlands and
grasslands are a community of life,” which drives home that all factors and links
of the ecosystem are indispensable for sustaining life. In our efforts of holistic ecogovernance and joint maintenance of eco-balance, such a systematic and comprehensive view breaks away from the traditional narrow perception of eco-environment,
and blazes a new horizon and space for us to understand eco-environmental protection
and ecological progress. It is good for creating a new situation of our modernization
drive featuring harmony between man and nature.
233
assertion that “protecting and improving the eco-environment is protecting and developing productivity,” which is a major innovation of the productivity theory. He also
generalized the dialectical unity between economic development and environmental
protection. “Lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets,” “a sound ecoenvironment is the most equitable public product and most inclusive wellbeing of
the people”… these statements make it clear that environmental protection doesn’t
necessarily come at the expense of economic development. Ecological progress can
benefit the mankind by generating immense ecological, economic and social benefits. Elevating eco-civilization to a political height, General Secretary Xi Jinping said
“developing eco-civilization meets the public expectation and improves livelihood,”
and “the people look forward to the accelerated improvement of eco-environmental
quality. We should actively respond to what they think and expect, strongly promote
ecological progress, and provide more quality ecological products to keep meeting
their ever-growing needs for a beautiful environment.” He creatively regarded ecological progress as an important way to resolve the principal contradiction in the current
Chinese society and to lead the country and the people to strength and affluence.
This is a vivid illustration of his thought on green state governance and ecological
outlook on livelihood.
3. Eco-civilization expands the strategic horizon of eco-environmental protection
The eco-environment is a compound system comprising man, nature and society,
in which any change relates to the whole system. Therefore, we have to protect the
eco-environment at root instead of only addressing the symptoms. General Secretary
Xi Jinping pointed out that environmental governance is a systematic program, so
we have to carry out the key tasks of eco-civilization development following a corresponding thought, namely ecological progress should be embedded in all aspects
and the whole process of economic, political, cultural and social advancement. Ecocivilization is the summation of the material, cultural and institutional attainments
that man has achieved in civilization development. As an advanced state of civilization, eco-civilization is the consummation and crystallization through the evolution
of primitive, agricultural and industrial civilization. General Secretary Xi Jinping also
put forth the innovative thought of “community of life” on the eco-environmental
front. “The lifeline of humans rests with farmlands, that of farmlands with water,
that of water with mountains, that of mountains with earth, and that of earth with
forests and grasslands”—the word “lifeline” highlights the interdependence among
the factors. The factor of “grassland” was added at the 19th CPC National Congress,
thus giving rise to the concept that “mountains, rivers, forests, lakes, farmlands and
grasslands are a community of life,” which drives home that all factors and links
of the ecosystem are indispensable for sustaining life. In our efforts of holistic ecogovernance and joint maintenance of eco-balance, such a systematic and comprehensive view breaks away from the traditional narrow perception of eco-environment,
and blazes a new horizon and space for us to understand eco-environmental protection
and ecological progress. It is good for creating a new situation of our modernization
drive featuring harmony between man and nature.