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C. Shi
construction of an ecological civilization into plans for economic and social development. We must ensure that Party committees provide leadership, governments give
direction, enterprises bear responsibility, and members of the public can participate,
and firmly reject the old path of polluting first and fixing it later or any growth model
that would damage or destroy the environment.
Finally, it is important to explicate the top-level design for development of an
ecological civilization in the new era General Secretary Xi Jinping spearheaded with
worst-case scenario, strategic, systematic, and dialectical thinking and with the rule
of law in mind. The principles put forth by Xi on stepping up development of an
ecological civilization should also be explained clearly.
The first principle is that harmony between man and nature must be upheld. The
philosophy of harmony between man and nature has prevailed in China for thousands
of years. As stressed by General Secretary Xi Jinping, throughout the process of
development, we must prioritize environmental conservation and protection and put
the restoration of nature first. We cannot think about what we can take from nature
without considering how we can give back to it; we cannot think about development
while ignoring our responsibility to protect the environment; and we cannot think
about how we can use nature without looking at how he can restore it. We should
protect our natural environment in the same way we would protect our own wellbeing,
focusing on taking more positive measures that will provide solid foundations and
long-term benefits, concrete steps that will help protect and restore the environment,
and effective actions that will clean up our surroundings and reveal their natural
beauty. This will allow the people to be close to mountains and waters and recall
their rural roots with fond memories, ensure that pristine natural vistas are never too
far away, and preserve the serenity, harmony, and beauty of nature. General Secretary
Xi Jinping has demonstrated to us a charming blueprint of a beautiful China.
The second principle is that our natural environment is precious. General Secretary Xi Jinping proposed that lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets,
which is an important concept for development and a major principle for advancing
modernization. The phrase expounds the relationship between economic development and environmental protection and shows us the truth that by protecting the
environment we are protecting productive forces, and that by improving the environment we are developing productive forces. It therefore points out a new path for
achieving coordination between development and conservation.
The third principle is that there is no welfare more universally beneficial than
a sound natural environment. The environment is crucial to the wellbeing of the
public, since blue skies and verdant surroundings allow us to feel the beauty and joy
of life. This has been highlighted by General Secretary Xi Jinping. Just as economic
development is for the wellbeing of the people, so is environmental protection. In
addition to creating more material and cultural wealth to meet people’s growing
needs for a better life, we need also to provide more quality ecological goods to meet
people’s growing demands for a beautiful environment.
The fourth principle is that our mountains, rivers, forests, fields, lakes and grasslands together form a biotic community. Mountains, rivers, forests, fields, lakes, and
grasslands are all an integral part of the whole ecosystem and together form a biotic
C. Shi
construction of an ecological civilization into plans for economic and social development. We must ensure that Party committees provide leadership, governments give
direction, enterprises bear responsibility, and members of the public can participate,
and firmly reject the old path of polluting first and fixing it later or any growth model
that would damage or destroy the environment.
Finally, it is important to explicate the top-level design for development of an
ecological civilization in the new era General Secretary Xi Jinping spearheaded with
worst-case scenario, strategic, systematic, and dialectical thinking and with the rule
of law in mind. The principles put forth by Xi on stepping up development of an
ecological civilization should also be explained clearly.
The first principle is that harmony between man and nature must be upheld. The
philosophy of harmony between man and nature has prevailed in China for thousands
of years. As stressed by General Secretary Xi Jinping, throughout the process of
development, we must prioritize environmental conservation and protection and put
the restoration of nature first. We cannot think about what we can take from nature
without considering how we can give back to it; we cannot think about development
while ignoring our responsibility to protect the environment; and we cannot think
about how we can use nature without looking at how he can restore it. We should
protect our natural environment in the same way we would protect our own wellbeing,
focusing on taking more positive measures that will provide solid foundations and
long-term benefits, concrete steps that will help protect and restore the environment,
and effective actions that will clean up our surroundings and reveal their natural
beauty. This will allow the people to be close to mountains and waters and recall
their rural roots with fond memories, ensure that pristine natural vistas are never too
far away, and preserve the serenity, harmony, and beauty of nature. General Secretary
Xi Jinping has demonstrated to us a charming blueprint of a beautiful China.
The second principle is that our natural environment is precious. General Secretary Xi Jinping proposed that lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets,
which is an important concept for development and a major principle for advancing
modernization. The phrase expounds the relationship between economic development and environmental protection and shows us the truth that by protecting the
environment we are protecting productive forces, and that by improving the environment we are developing productive forces. It therefore points out a new path for
achieving coordination between development and conservation.
The third principle is that there is no welfare more universally beneficial than
a sound natural environment. The environment is crucial to the wellbeing of the
public, since blue skies and verdant surroundings allow us to feel the beauty and joy
of life. This has been highlighted by General Secretary Xi Jinping. Just as economic
development is for the wellbeing of the people, so is environmental protection. In
addition to creating more material and cultural wealth to meet people’s growing
needs for a better life, we need also to provide more quality ecological goods to meet
people’s growing demands for a beautiful environment.
The fourth principle is that our mountains, rivers, forests, fields, lakes and grasslands together form a biotic community. Mountains, rivers, forests, fields, lakes, and
grasslands are all an integral part of the whole ecosystem and together form a biotic