Liu Ying, Liu Xigang: The Logic of Emergence, Essential Meaning, and Practical Path of the Ecological Wealth Outlook of Chinese-style Modernization
Achieving a "win-win" for both economic development and environmental protection has been a consistent goal of the Communist Party of China. Through over a century of arduous exploration and practice, socialist modernization—which adheres to the dialectical unity of "lucid waters and lush mountains" and "invaluable assets"—has made considerable progress and achieved remarkable results. The relationship between ecology and wealth, along with its related issues, has gradually become a focus of academic research, a hotspot of social concern, and a topic of global attention. In 2018, at the National Conference on Ecological and Environmental Protection, General Secretary Xi Jinping innovatively proposed that "lucid waters and lush mountains are not only natural and ecological wealth, but also social and economic wealth," providing a fundamental basis and guide for action to clarify the relationship between ecology and wealth.
The Resolution of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on the Major Achievements and Historical Experience of the Party over the Past Century, deliberated and adopted at the Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee, explicitly pointed out: "Ecological civilization construction is a fundamental plan concerning the sustainable development of the Chinese nation; protecting the ecological environment is protecting the productive forces, and improving the ecological environment is developing the productive forces." In other words, the relationship between ecology and wealth concerns the important cause of advancing socialist modernization and, moreover, the great cause of realizing the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. The report to the 20th CPC National Congress further emphasized that "enriching the people's spiritual world, realizing common prosperity for all, and promoting harmony between humanity and nature" are essential requirements of Chinese-path modernization. This not only sets new requirements and norms for coordinating the relationship between ecology and wealth but also signals the formal emergence of the ecological wealth concept of Chinese-path modernization.
Building on this, the National Conference on Ecological and Environmental Protection held in July 2023 elucidated several major relationships that must be correctly handled to advance the construction of an ecological civilization: the relationship between high-quality development and high-level protection; between key breakthroughs and collaborative governance; between natural recovery and man-made restoration; between external constraints and endogenous momentum; and between "dual carbon" [1] commitments and autonomous action. This provided important guidance for practicing the ecological wealth concept of Chinese-path modernization. Therefore, we believe that the ecological wealth concept is a concentrated expression of the essential requirements of Chinese-path modernization. It manifests as a value orientation characterized by the continuous growth of social wealth, the full satisfaction of the people’s needs for a better life, the protection and restoration of natural ecosystems, and harmony between humanity and nature. Furthermore, it is comprehensively integrated into the strategic deployment of Chinese-path modernization, representing an organic unity of a necessary generative logic, unique internal meanings, and a systematic path for implementation.
I. The Emergence Logic and Necessity of the Ecological Wealth Concept of Chinese-path Modernization
Modernization originated in the West and refers to a global historical process driven by industrialization and technological innovation that propels human society from tradition to modernity. However, this does not mean that the modernization paths of all countries are identical. On the contrary, based on socio-historical conditions, dominant political forces, and ideological attributes, different countries have made different choices regarding modernization paths or models, leading to a diversification of civilizations and forms of wealth. In the process of Western modernization, which takes capital appreciation and profit maximization as its fundamental pursuit, material wealth prevails. In contrast, Chinese-path modernization—led by the CPC—"possesses the common characteristics of modernization of all countries, but more importantly, Chinese characteristics based on its own national conditions." This modernization demonstrates the necessity for the appearance of ecological wealth implications concerning the liberation of nature and humanity.
(1) Historical Logic: The CPC's Long-term Protection and Consistent Pursuit of Ecological Wealth
The First Opium War forced open China's doors, after which China embarked on a path of passive modernization by following in the footsteps of Western modern civilization—namely, copying Western modernization models to realize Chinese modernization. Although the wide dissemination of Marxism in China and the entry of the working class onto the political stage as an independent force brought a turning point for Chinese modernization, it was not until the birth of the CPC and its leadership of the Chinese people to victory in the New Democratic Revolution [2] that a fundamental transformation occurred, leading to an active, Chinese-path modernization.
On this path, the CPC has never ceased its attention to and emphasis on the ecological environment and natural resources, consistently persisting in the protection and pursuit of ecological wealth. This determines that the emergence and development of ecological wealth implications possess a clear historical logic and strong endogenous momentum. As early as the New Democratic Revolution period, the CPC began emphasizing the importance of afforestation, proposing methods for forest distribution and localized cultivation. Although the protection and pursuit of ecological wealth during this period primarily took the form of farming methods that conformed to nature, they inherently contained a simple ecological wealth wisdom: the ecological environment is a productive force, and protecting it means protecting the productive forces.
During the period of socialist revolution and construction [3], the CPC launched a series of ecological and environmental protection actions, including increasing production and practicing economy, pollution control, and waste recycling, initiating the protection and pursuit of ecological wealth within the process of industrialization. At this time, Chinese Communists began to deeply realize that "the air in the sky, the forests on the earth, and the treasures underground are all important factors needed for building socialism," acting according to the laws of nature. Following the entry into the new period of reform and opening up and socialist modernization [4], the pressure on China's resources and environment increased continuously, and the contradiction between economic development and environmental protection became increasingly prominent. In this context, the CPC led the people in unremitting struggle, firmly implementing the strategy of sustainable development and innovatively proposing the Scientific Outlook on Development. It not only clearly pointed out that "environmental protection work is the basis for realizing sustainable economic and social development" and that protecting the environment is protecting productive forces, but also emphasized that while developing the economy, greater attention should be paid to protecting the environment, entering a new stage of protecting and pursuing ecological wealth.
In the New Era of socialism with Chinese characteristics, with the establishment of Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization, the CPC's process of protecting and pursuing ecological wealth has accelerated at an unprecedented rate under the guidance of the "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets" concept. Important assertions such as "protecting the ecological environment is protecting the productive forces, and improving the ecological environment is developing the productive forces" and "the environment is the people's livelihood; green mountains are beauty, and blue skies are happiness" have become fundamental guides for the people to follow a path of modernization characterized by ecological priority and green development. From this, it is evident that the ecological wealth implications of Chinese-path modernization are ready to emerge.
(2) Theoretical Logic: Important Treatises on the Relationship between Ecology and Wealth in the Marxist View of Nature
As an advanced political party armed with Marxist theory, the CPC, in the process of leading the people in modernization, cannot be separated from the profound reflections of classical Marxist authors on modernization. Thus, examining the theoretical foundation for the emergence of ecological wealth in Chinese-path modernization necessitates understanding and grasping the Marxist view of nature. Although the Marxist view of "humanized nature" does not explicitly discuss ecological wealth or its related concepts, its systematic discourse on the relationships between humanity and nature, between individuals, and between humanity and society contains a scientific explanation of the relationship between ecology and wealth. This has greatly promoted the smooth emergence of the ecological wealth concept from a theoretical dimension.
In the Critique of the Gotha Programme, Marx used his critique of the Eisenach faction's views to scientifically define the sources of wealth: "Nature is just as much the source of use values (and it is surely of such that material wealth consists!) as labor, which itself is only the manifestation of a force of nature, human labor power." As the English classical economist William Petty stated in A Treatise of Taxes and Contributions, "Labor is the father and active principle of wealth, as lands are the mother." On the one hand, from a material dimension, the objective and pre-existing natural world is one of the sources of wealth, playing a foundational role in the production process. On the other hand, from an agentic dimension, human labor is likewise a source of wealth, representing the general possibility of wealth and occupying an irreplaceable position in its production. In the Marxist view of nature, social wealth can only achieve sustained growth when labor—the living element of wealth—and nature—the material element of wealth—are combined through the sustainable metabolic exchange between humanity and nature mediated by labor.
In the Communist Manifesto, Marx and Engels scientifically described the relationship between ecology and wealth through a profound critique of the capitalist mode of wealth production. They noted, "The bourgeoisie, during its rule of scarce one hundred years, has created more massive and more colossal productive forces than have all preceding generations together," affirming the outstanding contribution of the capitalist mode of production to the enhancement of productive forces and wealth accumulation. However, this mode of wealth production, based on the exploitation of nature and the oppression of workers, soon faced the contradiction between unlimited needs for wealth and limited natural supply. It became "like the sorcerer, who is no longer able to control the powers of the nether world whom he has called up by his spells." This not only made sustained growth of social wealth unsustainable and eliminated initial wealth gains but also led humanity to multiple severe crises—the "revenge" of nature against humanity predicted by Engels in Dialectics of Nature.
(3) Practical Logic: Economic and Social Development Facing Resource and Environmental Bottlenecks
Compared to the early-developing modernization of the West, China's modernization has distinct characteristics of combining "late-developing exogenous" and "late-developing endogenous" types. This means China's modernization process must not only complete the developmental tasks of traditional modernization but also respond to new changes and challenges in the late-modernization process—namely, the resource and environmental bottlenecks encountered by high-quality economic and social development. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, ecological and environmental protection in China has "undergone historical, transformative, and comprehensive changes; our motherland’s skies are bluer, mountains are greener, and waters are clearer." To a considerable extent, this has solidified the natural resource foundation for meeting the people's needs for a better life and promoting the economy to enter a high-quality development stage.
However, resource and environmental bottlenecks in China still exist and are gradually becoming important constraints on high-quality economic development and the continuous improvement of people's livelihoods. While China is rich in natural resources with large totals and diverse types—containing enormous ecological productive forces—the per capita possession of various resources is often below the world average. With rapid economic and social development, various resource and environmental problems have gradually surfaced. First, the over-exploitation of natural resources has led to increasingly severe bottlenecks. The traditional development model's excessive plundering of the environment left behind a massive "environmental debt," bringing issues such as soil erosion, sharp declines in biodiversity, intensified air pollution, and reduced mineral resources. Meanwhile, "ecological colonialism" has further exacerbated the complexity and severity of China's resource exploitation. Developed Western countries have used developing countries, including China, as "warehouses" for natural resources and "recycling stations" for pollution and waste. They not only purchase raw or primary-processed natural resource products from developing countries at low prices but also transfer highly polluting backward industries and toxic, harmful production and living waste to these countries. Second, social consumption and the pursuit of wealth concentrated in the material realm have led to a trend of worsening resource and environmental bottlenecks. Since the reform and opening up, China's economy has developed rapidly, and the income levels of urban and rural residents have significantly increased, gradually releasing the huge potential of domestic demand. However, in this process, on the one hand, a model of over-consumption and the veneration of material consumption has emerged, exacerbating environmental problems at the consumption level. On the other hand, as material wealth grows and the long-suppressed material needs of the people are satisfied, there is an increasing tendency to flock toward alienated wealth concepts of "material wealth only," intensifying environmental issues at the level of wealth aspirations. Therefore, we believe that the emergence of the ecological wealth implications of Chinese-path modernization—upholding the principle of economic development and environmental protection moving in the same direction—is a practical necessity at this moment.
II. The Original Meaning and Uniqueness of the Ecological Wealth Concept of Chinese-path Modernization
The core content of the ecological wealth concept of Chinese-path modernization lies in the scientific interpretation of its original meaning. With "harmony between humanity and nature," "common prosperity for all," and "coordination between material and spiritual civilizations" as its main themes and value orientations, the ecological wealth implication differs from the basic meaning of the material wealth concept in Western modernization. In the process of China's modernization, the ecological wealth concept—based on Marxist principles regarding humanity and nature, common prosperity, and the relationship between spiritual and material civilizations—demonstrates its unique scientific meaning across the three dimensions of goals, core, and aspirations, highlighting the core essence and essential requirements of Chinese-path modernization.
(1) Harmony between Humanity and Nature: The Fundamental Goal of the Ecological Wealth Concept
As the outstanding English classical political economist Adam Smith...
From Adam Smith's perspective, wealth includes currency (which is usually only a small portion), commodities (though not exclusively), and the goods people produce and consume. He also perceptively noted that a vast territory, fertile land, abundant products, and favorable natural conditions are important indicators of a nation's wealth. Unfortunately, the concept of wealth prevailing in the capitalist world has not only failed to actively absorb the unique insights of Smith's theory of wealth but has also equated social wealth with material wealth, emphasizing the private appropriation of material interests. With the onset and evolution of Western modernization, an alienated [5] view of material wealth emerged. From this perspective, the activity of wealth production serves the fundamental goal of capital valorization and profit maximization. Furthermore, the material wealth perspective holds that social wealth consists only of use-values that have altered their natural form through labor processing to meet the needs of human and social development. Natural environments, natural resources, and ecological factors that haven't entered the production process—though they also meet the needs of economic and social development—are not considered basic components of social wealth.
The ecological wealth perspective, however, maintains that the harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature is a fundamental goal running through the entire process of Chinese-path modernization; this is its most distinctive feature distinguishing it from other concepts and thoughts on wealth. First, based on the discourse in the Marxist view of nature regarding the relationship between ecology and wealth, the ecological wealth perspective values the dialectical unity between humanity and nature, emphasizing that "humanity and nature are a community of life." "Whether in fact or in value, there always exists a nature that precedes man, is independent of man, and stipulates man." This nature not only provides material resources for production activities but also provides the producer of wealth—humanity itself. Although human labor is also a source of social wealth, as products of nature, humans must respect, conform to, and protect nature, and then rationally utilize and process the material resources provided by the natural world for production activities. In this way, the continuous growth of ecological wealth, the overall stabilization and improvement of natural ecosystems, and the harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature can be realized. Second, combined with the ecological status quo facing the construction of Chinese-path modernization, the ecological wealth perspective adopts the "principle of prioritizing conservation, prioritizing protection, and focusing on natural restoration" as the code of conduct for wealth production activities. Based on a comprehensive consideration of the current state of China’s resources and environment—where environmental quality is continuously improving and the environmental security situation is basically stable, but the difficulty of further improvement is significantly increasing—the connotation of ecological wealth utilizes a sustainable wealth growth model. It places the metabolism between humanity and nature within the wealth production process under the control of the principles of conservation, protection, and natural restoration. This ensures the continuous growth of material, spiritual, and ecological wealth while also guaranteeing a sustainedly beautiful ecological environment. Thus, the fundamental goal of harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature is successfully integrated into wealth production activities. Finally, the ecological wealth perspective draws beneficial nutrients from ecological economics, regarding the ecological environment itself as precious wealth and requiring us to "protect the nature and the ecological environment as we protect our own eyes." Within the discourse of the ecological wealth perspective, material wealth, spiritual wealth, and ecological wealth together constitute social wealth. Use-values created by human labor that meet the needs of human and social development are social wealth, and the ecological environment—which possesses both use-value and value—is also social wealth. As General Secretary Xi Jinping has stated, "Ecology is our precious resource and wealth." The ecological environment itself harbors immense ecological productive forces. Natural resources that have not yet entered the production process but possess actual use-value are wealth; the various ecological factors such as sunlight, water, and air that constitute human survival and production are also wealth. Therefore, the connotation of ecological wealth emphasizes that in the process of building Chinese-path modernization, we must increase the intensity of ecological and environmental protection, protecting the source and driving force of perpetual wealth growth through the unremitting pursuit of harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature.
(2) Common Prosperity for All: The Essential Core of the Ecological Wealth Perspective
Another fundamental difference between the ecological wealth perspective and the material wealth perspective is manifested in the dimension of the essential core. The material wealth perspective originated within the process of Western modernization, and the onset and evolution of Western modernization relied on the capitalist system. This means that the capitalist genes and nature inherent in the material wealth perspective dictate that it must follow the logic of capital [6]. Under the logic of capital, the material wealth perspective not only emphasizes the infinite growth of material wealth but also holds that wealth should be privately owned by the owners of the means of production—the capitalists. Thus, in a capitalist world characterized by an immense accumulation of material wealth, nature and laborers together produce magnificent palaces for the capitalist, yet for themselves, they produce broken bodies and inescapable destitution, trapping themselves in inequality and injustice.
Compared to the material wealth perspective constrained by the logic of capital, the ecological wealth connotation of Chinese-path modernization follows the logic of the people. It regards the realization of common prosperity for all as the essential core of wealth production activities, committing itself to the liberation of humanity and well-rounded human development. The report to the 20th CPC National Congress explicitly stated that "Chinese-path modernization is the modernization of common prosperity for all." This is a major judgment made by the Communist Party of China on the essential requirements of Chinese-path modernization, providing theoretical guidance and spiritual impetus for the ecological wealth perspective of Chinese-path modernization. On one hand, from the viewpoint of the ecological wealth perspective, realizing the people's aspirations for a better life is the starting point and ultimate goal of wealth production activities. Entering the New Era, faced with the people's higher-level needs for a better life—especially the urgent need for a beautiful ecological environment—the ecological wealth perspective, based on the inheritance and development of Marx and Engels' theory of well-rounded human development, achieves a sublation [7] and transcendence of the material wealth perspective in the dimension of the fundamental scale and primary markers of wealth. Specifically, the ecological wealth perspective transforms the scale and marker of wealth from "the use-value, value, and monetary expression of economic products created by the expenditure of human labor" into a good ecological environment consistent with human nature and the degree of consistency with well-rounded human development. In this way, wealth production activities guided by the ecological wealth perspective are committed to producing abundant and sustainable social wealth, fully satisfying the higher needs of the masses in material, spiritual, and ecological aspects, while also effectively meeting the differentiated orientations of the masses for means of subsistence, enjoyment, and development. Thus, on the basis of realizing the people's aspirations for a better life, it attains the free and well-rounded development of each individual. On the other hand, the connotation of ecological wealth also "focuses on maintaining and promoting social fairness and justice, focuses on promoting common prosperity for all, and resolutely prevents polarization." The ecological wealth perspective holds that as the laborers of wealth production, the broad masses of the people should naturally possess the right to enjoy the fruits of social wealth. As the material basis of wealth production, the natural world should naturally possess the space to evolve according to its own laws and maintain its own sustained beauty. Furthermore, as the reserve laborers for wealth production, future generations should also naturally possess sufficient natural material resources and a beautiful natural environment to produce wealth. Thus, in wealth production activities that emphasize equity in wealth distribution and the pursuit of social justice, we must not only adhere to the principle of fairness in distribution according to the specific requirements of our country’s wealth distribution system—allowing all people to share in the abundant fruits of wealth—but also further improve the existing wealth distribution system. We must persist in and expand the scope of application for the principle of fairness, surpassing the limitations of time and space so that the current generation's enjoyment of wealth does not damage the rights and possibilities for future generations to conduct wealth production activities, leaving them ecological room to achieve wealth growth. More importantly, we must follow the objective laws of natural ecosystems, focusing on strengthening environmental sustainability to ensure that the natural environment, natural resources, and ecological factors can function and evolve in a healthy and sustainable manner, thereby realizing true common prosperity and extensive fairness and justice.
(3) Coordination Between Material and Spiritual Civilization: An Important Demand of the Ecological Wealth Perspective
The material wealth perspective under the capitalist system makes no secret of its fanaticism and obsession with material wealth, pursuing infinitely growing material wealth to satisfy the infinite demand of a minority of capitalists for capital valorization and profit maximization, while ignoring the basic needs of the majority of laborers. From the perspective of building material civilization, wealth production activities guided by the core tenets of the material wealth perspective overemphasize the accumulation of material wealth while slighting or even ignoring the accumulation of other forms of wealth. Although it has created material wealth incomparable to all preceding generations, this massive wealth is privately owned only by the capitalists who possess the means of production, failing to meet the material needs of all humanity and social development. This means that no matter how rich or vast the material wealth created by wealth production activities may be, it is difficult to result in a material civilization that benefits all humanity and promotes sustainable social development; it is merely a deformed, unsustainable, and alienated civilization, inseparable from "commodity fetishism" and "money fetishism."
Conversely, the ecological wealth perspective—which is grounded in the basic Marxist principles regarding spiritual and material civilization and emerged during the New Era of socialism with Chinese characteristics—consistently insists on promoting the coordinated development of material and spiritual civilization, regarding this as its own important demand. In the discourses of classical Marxist writers, material civilization and spiritual civilization are closely linked and mutually restrictive, achieving dialectical unity in social practice. Marx, in the Preface to A Contribution to the Critique of Political Economy, provided a precise summary of the foundational role of material civilization, pointing out that "the mode of production of material life conditions the general process of social, political, and intellectual life." Engels also noted in a letter to Conrad Schmidt that "although the material mode of existence is the primum agens [prime mover], this does not preclude the ideological sphere from reacting upon it." In other words, spiritual civilization can provide intellectual support and directional guidance for the development of material civilization. Proceeding from this and fully integrating China's basic national conditions, the Communist Party of China has led the people to scientifically understand and accurately grasp the dialectical relationship between material and spiritual civilization during the process of modernization. At the ceremony marking the centenary of the CPCP, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that over the past hundred years, the Party has led the people to "promote the coordinated development of material, political, spiritual, social, and ecological civilizations, creating a new path of Chinese-path modernization and a new form of human civilization." The report to the 20th CPC National Congress explicitly stated: "Chinese-path modernization is the modernization of coordination between material and spiritual civilizations." These important judgments not only clarify that the coordinated development of material and spiritual civilization is the unchanging theme and unremitting goal of socialist modernization and an essential requirement of Chinese-path modernization, but also define the mission and tasks bestowed upon the connotation of ecological wealth by Chinese-path modernization: namely, "to promote all-round material abundance and the well-rounded development of the person." Specifically, wealth production activities need to vigorously develop material civilization, "continuously thickening the material foundation of modernization and continuously strengthening the material conditions for the people's happy lives." We must use the new development philosophy to drive the transformation of the economy and society from high-speed growth to high-quality development, continuously enhancing economic strength to provide strong material support for meeting the people's needs for a better life, protecting the beautiful ecological environment, and promoting the development of spiritual civilization. We also need to "vigorously develop advanced socialist culture, strengthen education in ideals and convictions, and carry forward Chinese civilization." Through the organic unity of upholding the guiding position of Marxism, practicing socialist core values, and promoting fine traditional Chinese culture, we must carry out publicity and education on Chinese-path modernization and the great Chinese Dream, improve the system of ideological guidance, and continuously enhance the cohesion and centripetal force of the Chinese nation. This will build a powerful spiritual force for promoting the development of material civilization and constructing a modernization where humanity and nature coexist in harmony.
III. The Practical Path and Systemic Nature of the Ecological Wealth Perspective of Chinese-path Modernization
Striving to practice the ecological wealth perspective of Chinese-path modernization is an important cornerstone for ensuring the perpetual development of the socialist modernization cause. Achieving a "win-win" between economic development and environmental protection is a significant topic that is both theoretical and practical, as well as a complex project that is both systemic and long-term. "Adhering to the concept that lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets, adhering to the integrated protection and systematic governance of mountains, rivers, forests, farmlands, lakes, grasslands, and deserts, and strengthening ecological and environmental protection across all directions, regions, and processes" is not only a summary of experience and affirmation of achievements in China's ecological protection work since the 18th CPC National Congress, but also a strategic deployment for building a Chinese-path modernization endowed with an ecological wealth perspective. It inspires our deep reflection and systemic consideration on how to practice the ecological wealth perspective of Chinese-path modernization. Proceeding from this and combined with the inherent meaning of the ecological wealth perspective, we take the organic unity of "Directional Guidance—Multidimensional Drive—Institutional Safeguards" as the logical starting point to explain the systemic practical path of the ecological wealth perspective of Chinese-path modernization.
(1) Directional Guidance: Integrating the Goal of Ecological Wealth Realization into the Entire Process of Chinese Modernization
Looking at the arduous and tortuous process of China's modernization construction, the view of ecological wealth in Chinese-path modernization is a complex system composed of multiple issues. Practicing such systematic thought must adhere to the correct target orientation. The goal of ecological wealth creation—that is, the pursuit of the continuous generation and accumulation of ecological wealth—includes the pursuit of the sustained growth of various forms of social wealth such as material wealth, spiritual wealth, and ecological wealth, as well as the pursuit of coordinated resonance among these various forms of social wealth. In this way, the practice of the view of ecological wealth needs to take the goal of ecological wealth creation as its directional guide and implement it throughout the entire process, all fields, and the power system of Chinese modernization, thereby systematically advancing the construction of Chinese-path modernization.
First, implement the goal of ecological wealth creation throughout the entire process of modernization. Chinese-path modernization is modernization with Chinese characteristics, prominently manifested in the critique, transcendence, remediation, and prevention of the modernization path of "pollute first, treat later" [8] taken by Western countries. Practicing the view of ecological wealth in Chinese-path modernization requires building on this foundation by integrating the goal of ecological wealth creation into the whole process of modernization construction. In the exploration stage, starting from the basic principle of economic development and environmental protection moving in the same direction and led by the goal of ecological wealth creation, we explore a modernization path characterized by the organic unity of ecology and wealth. In the development stage, we continuously promote the sustained generation and accumulation of ecological wealth; especially when encountering risks and challenges, we would rather have "lucid waters and lush mountains" than "gold and silver mountains" [9], providing a new choice for achieving human modernization. In the New Development Stage [10], we continue to adhere to the goal of ecological wealth creation as a guide, promoting the permanent growth of ecological wealth and the sustainable development of the Chinese nation, thereby creating a new form of human civilization.
Second, implement the goal of ecological wealth creation across all fields of modernization. Based on the penetration of modernization into the economic, political, cultural, and ideological fields and the corresponding profound changes it causes, practicing the view of ecological wealth in Chinese-path modernization requires incorporating the goal of ecological wealth creation into all fields of modernization. This allows the significance of ecological wealth to be integrated into the "Five-Sphere Integrated Plan" and the "Four Comprehensives" strategy, becoming a consistent pursuit across all fields of modernization construction.
Third, implement the goal of ecological wealth creation into the power system of modernization. Due to the distinct characteristics of combining late-comer exogeneity [11] and late-comer endogeneity, the arduousness of Chinese-path modernization construction is extremely rare in human history. This means that the forces driving the development of Chinese-path modernization are pluralistic and complex, together constituting an organic power system. Therefore, it is inevitable to permeate the goal of ecological wealth creation into the modernization power system. By achieving the modernization of scientific and technological innovation, education, income distribution, and the system of opening up to the outside world through ecological wealth creation, we provide strong momentum for the genuine practice of the view of ecological wealth, thereby advancing the sustainable development of the cause of socialist modernization.
(2) Multi-dimensional driving: Jointly promoting ecological wealth growth through the market, the government, and the people.
From the perspective of practical generation, the inevitable action for practicing the view of ecological wealth in Chinese-path modernization is centrally reflected in the full implementation and resolute execution of the essential meaning of the view of ecological wealth during the process of economic and social development. According to the multi-dimensional and complex modernization power system, the generation and accumulation of ecological wealth cannot be separated from the systematic drive of multiple forces.
First, from the market dimension, the generation and accumulation of ecological wealth are inseparable from the decisive power of an effective market. In the view of ecological wealth, a so-called "effective market" refers to stimulating the market's decisive role in resource allocation and effectively bringing into play the decisive momentum of market mechanisms, market entities, and capital in the process of wealth production. To activate the market's decisive momentum for ecological wealth growth, it is necessary to gradually deepen market-oriented reforms. One aspect is to allow the market to fully and efficiently allocate various resources for wealth production by breaking down industry monopolies, barriers, and other behaviors that damage market unity. The second is to respect objective market laws and guard against chaotic market order and the phenomenon of improperly seeking wealth, such as "disorderly development" or "brutal plunder."
Second, from the government dimension, the generation and accumulation of ecological wealth require better play for the key driving force of a promising government. Within the discourse of the view of ecological wealth, a promising government is a government under the rule of law and a service-oriented government that "does some things while refraining from others" [12]. On the one hand, the government promotes the organic unity of market power and government power in the process of wealth production. Starting from the wealth growth and environmental protection that the people care about, the government improves the corresponding levels of macro-control and scientific management, and does a good job in basic and inclusive [13] livelihood work, weaving a safe and solid protective net for the continuous growth of ecological wealth. On the other hand, the government makes good use of its own consultative mechanisms, focusing on ecological wealth issues concerning the most inclusive livelihood well-being of the masses. It consults extensively and gathers wisdom and strength from many parties to form a consensus on ecological wealth that meets the earnest expectations of the masses, thereby building itself into a service-oriented government that satisfies the people.
Finally, from the dimension of the people, the continuous growth of ecological wealth needs the endogenous driving force from the masses. At the national summary and commendation conference for the poverty alleviation dynamic, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "The people are the true heroes. The endogenous motivation that inspires the masses to be self-reliant and work hard is crucial for the people to create their own beautiful lives." The masses are the creators of history, the creators of material, spiritual, and ecological wealth, and the fundamental force of social progress. From this, it can be seen that the continuous growth of ecological wealth is inseparable from the masses—only the masses can realize the permanent growth of ecological wealth. To fully tap into the endogenous motivation of the masses, it is necessary both to let the people fully recognize the scientific connotations and far-reaching significance contained in the concept that "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets" [9], and to let the people personally feel and enjoy the "gold and silver mountains" brought by "lucid waters and lush mountains." We must continuously meet their aspirations for a better life, thereby encouraging them to consciously establish and practice the "lucid waters and lush mountains" concept, and promote the permanent growth of ecological wealth with a continuous flow of powerful momentum from the height of harmony between humanity and nature.
(3) Institutional safeguarding: Protecting the permanent growth of ecological wealth with an increasingly improved institutional system.
Since the 18th CPC National Congress, China's ecological civilization construction has entered a period of the greatest legislative intensity, the densest introduction of systems, and the strictest supervision and law enforcement. The institutionalization of ecological civilization has achieved remarkable results: the "Four Beams and Eight Pillars" [14] have been basically established, and the institutional system has become more complete. As a public good, the ecological civilization system possesses external normativity, which can effectively constrain human behavior in economic and social development and regulate the relationships between humanity and nature, between individuals, and between individuals and society. This inspires us that practicing the view of ecological wealth in Chinese-path modernization—an era-defining task of extreme complexity and systematicity—requires not only the directional guidance of the goal of ecological wealth creation and the coordinated advancement of multi-dimensional forces but also careful planning and meticulous demonstration of how to safeguard the generation, accumulation, and distribution of ecological wealth at the level of the institutional system. We must protect the beautiful ecological environment as much as possible to preserve a sufficient and continuously flowing source for the permanent growth of wealth—that is, to "speed up the improvement of systems and mechanisms for implementing the concept that lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets."
First, lose no time in improving laws and regulations on ecological wealth to strengthen the protection of the material source of wealth. In the past ten-odd years, more than 20 laws and regulations related to the ecological environment have been formulated or revised by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress. Together with the laws and regulations already in effect, these constitute a preliminary comprehensive, pragmatic, and rigorous legal system for the socialist ecological environment with Chinese characteristics. To further guarantee the generation of ecological wealth, we must build on this foundation—in combination with the current situation where China's wealth growth is encountering resource and environmental bottlenecks—to increase the intensity of protection for the ecological environment within laws and regulations. We must continuously strengthen the ecological environment protection dimension of laws and regulations to provide sustained and effective protection for the material source of ecological wealth growth.
Second, strive to improve the ecological wealth distribution system to activate the living source of wealth. Proceeding from the essential meaning of the view of ecological wealth, the accumulation of ecological wealth is inseparable from unswervingly upholding the principal position of the people; proceeding from the living source of wealth, the distribution of ecological wealth is inseparable from fully satisfying the basic needs of the masses. In short, the continuous growth of ecological wealth is inseparable from the fundamental power of the masses. Therefore, to further guarantee the growth of ecological wealth, it is necessary to have the cooperation of an ecological wealth distribution system that adheres to the principles of fairness and justice. This ensures that in the process of modernization characterized by harmony between humanity and nature, common prosperity for all, and the coordination of material and spiritual civilizations, the masses enjoy genuine fairness and broad justice between humanity and nature, between people, and between the material and the spiritual. Consequently, they will actively and initiative-takingly shoulder the era-defining task of promoting the permanent growth of ecological wealth and advancing human modernization.
Third, focus on innovating the assessment and supervision system for ecological wealth to safeguard the permanent growth of ecological wealth. Within the discourse of the view of ecological wealth, the assessment and supervision system—primarily applicable to leading officials—runs through the processes of generation, accumulation, and distribution of ecological wealth; it is the logical cornerstone for guaranteeing ecological wealth growth. Innovating the ecological wealth assessment and supervision system requires not only incorporating indicators that reflect the level of ecological wealth accumulation and the effectiveness of ecological environmental protection into the performance evaluation system for local leading officials, and increasing the weight of ecological wealth and environmental indicators therein, but also strictly supervising the ecological responsibilities of leading officials. We must innovatively establish and continuously improve a lifelong accountability system for damage to ecological wealth and destruction of the ecological environment, insisting on the parallel implementation of strict compensation systems and the investigation of criminal responsibility according to the law. In this way, the ecological wealth guarantee system can, on an institutional level, systematically and consistently safeguard the "taking root" of the view of ecological wealth in Chinese-path modernization and the permanent growth of ecological wealth.