Liu Xiaoyun: The International Community Highly Appraises the Achievements of China's Ecological Civilization Construction in the New Era
Since the 18th CPC National Congress, under the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization, China has embarked on a unique path of ecological civilization construction suited to its own national conditions. This has not only guided China in taking great strides toward the direction of a "Beautiful China," but has also made immense contributions to improving the global ecological environment, earning extensive attention and positive evaluations from the international community.
International Figures Highly Affirm China's Achievements in Ecological Civilization Construction
China actively participates in global environmental governance, conscientiously fulfilling its obligations under environment-related treaties such as those on climate change and biodiversity. It has met its 2020 targets related to climate change response and the establishment of nature reserves ahead of schedule. The international community highly recognizes these achievements and has voiced its approval.
"China's green development is already at the forefront of the world." Hans Hendrischke, Professor of Chinese Business and Management at the University of Sydney Business School, believes that after decades of rapid economic growth, China is placing greater emphasis on environmental protection and the development of a green economy. Development needs across various sectors have also stimulated China to move toward a path of green innovation. Yu Jie, a Senior Research Fellow and China lead at LSE IDEAS, pointed out that ecological civilization construction is not only a necessity for environmental protection but also for China's next stage of economic transformation. It represents China's solemn commitment to the world and its proactive performance in continuing to implement the Paris Agreement on climate change, demonstrating the responsibility of a major power. Lina Dengrudaneisen, Editor-in-Chief of the Flemish edition of China Today, noted: "China's green development is already at the forefront of the world."
"China has blazed a new trail in the field of ecological construction." Clifford Cobb, Editor-in-Chief of the American Journal of Economics and Sociology, praised China for opening a new path in the field of ecological construction. He believes that China is one of the leaders in today’s green energy revolution; the development path China has taken is entirely different from that of European and American countries, and China's governance of pollution provides a model for other nations. Dr. James Rowan, a well-known American environmental scholar, pointed out that China's efforts and results in ecological civilization construction are obvious to all. China's progress has a profound impact on the future of sustainable development for all humanity: "I have happily witnessed China's determination and action in building an ecological civilization and promoting green sustainable development from the top down." Yoshio Sasaki, a professor at the School of Environment, Resources and Development at the Asian Institute of Technology, believes: "China's contribution to biodiversity conservation is particularly precious. China's effective protection and restoration of biodiversity in ecosystems such as wetlands, forests, and rivers are crucial for maintaining global ecological balance and promoting the harmonious coexistence of man and nature."
"Protecting the ecological environment so well is an unimaginably great achievement." Manish Chand, President and Editor-in-Chief of India Writes Network, spoke with great admiration: "In the past five years, China has achieved immense results in the fight against poverty [1] while also protecting the ecological environment so well—this is an unimaginably great achievement." In the view of Masamichi Mizuma, Professor Emeritus at Reitaku University in Japan, since the 18th CPC National Congress, the Chinese government has attached great importance to addressing environmental issues such as air, water, and soil pollution. It has placed greater emphasis on ecological civilization construction and adopted a series of effective measures that have tangibly improved the environment. Say Chhum, President of the Senate of Cambodia, stated that China has proposed a series of new measures in ecological civilization construction that are admirable: "I believe that through these measures, China’s ecological environment will get better and better, and the goal of a Beautiful China will be realized."
International Figures Pay Close Attention to China's Experience in Ecological Civilization Construction
While affirming China's achievements, international figures have focused even more on summarizing the experience gained from China's successes.
"We see that China's top leadership has set a clear direction in the field of environmental protection and demonstrated firm determination." Daniel Dudek, Chief Economist at the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), believes: "For China and the world, ecological civilization is a very courageous concept. The Communist Party of China is the first ruling party to write ecological civilization construction into its action program." Ibrahim Thiaw, former Deputy Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), stated that we see China's top leadership has set a clear direction and shown firm resolve. China's environmental decision-making sends a positive signal to the world; China's efforts will benefit not only the Chinese people but also people globally.
"The 'Two Mountains' theory [2] provides strong theoretical support for China's ecological civilization construction and green development." Rajeshwar Batray, Executive Chairman of the China Study Center in Nepal, pointed out that the widespread praise for China's ecological achievements is not only an affirmation of China's development philosophy but also reflects the common vision of people worldwide for future green development. Balakrishna Pisupati, a senior expert at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), believes that China has made ecological civilization a key priority for national development, using it to guide and initiate a new development model and concept oriented toward the future. John B. Cobb Jr., a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, believes that the "Two Mountains" theory balances economic development and environmental protection, forging a path for ecological civilization that is a high-quality green development path. The "Two Mountains" theory provides strong theoretical support for China's ecological civilization construction and green development.
"China possesses unique advantages, especially its immense institutional advantages." In the view of Japanese economist Noriyoshi Ehara, building an ecological civilization requires improving national policies and raising the awareness of enterprises and individuals. In these areas, China has unique advantages, especially huge institutional advantages. American scholar Roy Morrison pointed out that only China is capable of making such major decisions and accomplishing such "great undertakings" [3]—leading the world onto a path of sustainable development. Zhang Jianyu, China Project Director of the Environmental Defense Fund, believes that the Chinese government has strong execution capabilities; therefore, when the government realizes the importance of environmental issues, it can break through entrenched interests. Once the "sleeping lion" of China's ecological civilization construction awakens, the advantages and energy it releases will be incomparable to the traditional Western environmental protection system.
"Through specific policies, China has clearly demonstrated its willingness to put its commitments to ecological civilization construction into practice." Bert Hofman, World Bank Country Director for China, stated: "China has already formulated many excellent plans. In the field of green finance, for example, China has become a global leader. Additionally, China has vigorously promoted the River Chief [4] and Lake Chief systems, which are very innovative institutional arrangements." Roy Morrison said that China, through concrete policies, has shown its will to turn commitments into action. Wang Zhihe, head of the China Project at the Center for Process Studies in the US, stated that building an ecological civilization has been elevated by China to the level of national strategy and national will, reflecting China's proactive assumption of its ecological responsibilities as a responsible major power.
"China's achievements in ecological civilization construction today are inseparable from the efforts of every Chinese person." John B. Cobb Jr. said that these achievements are inseparable from the efforts of each citizen and the "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets" concept proposed by Chinese leaders. Mahesh Pradhan, a project officer at the UNEP International Environmental Technology Centre (IETC), stated: "The environmental awareness of the Chinese public is growing higher and higher, and the formation of this universal environmental consciousness is vital for green development." Masamichi Mizuma believes that in recent years, as China has achieved brilliant successes in ecological civilization, the consciousness and initiative of the public to participate have grown significantly. Alain Labat, President of the Federation of Franco-Chinese Friendship Associations, pointed out that China has increased its environmental protection efforts across the levels of policy, funding, and technology. "The smooth progress of this work is due to China's continuously improving environmental protection system, its innovative ecological governance and protection methods, and wide public participation."
"China's ecological civilization construction stems from concepts in traditional Chinese culture such as the unity of heaven and humanity [5] and the harmonious coexistence of man and nature." Mahesh Pradhan believes that China's ecological civilization construction is rooted in traditional concepts. "Green development is about handling the harmonious relationship between man and nature. The green economy will become a major growth point for the future economy, tying more closely into the lives of the common people." Harro von Senger, Professor Emeritus at the University of Freiburg, believes that the idea of "the unity of heaven and humanity" represents Chinese wisdom, and China is qualified to lead the world toward an ecological civilization.
International Figures Highly Praise China for Contributing Chinese Wisdom to Global Ecological Civilization Construction
Facing global environmental challenges, China was among the first to release its National Plan on the Implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, implement the National Plan on Climate Change (2014–2020), deposit its instrument of ratification for the Paris Agreement with the UN, and establish the Belt and Road Initiative International Green Development Coalition with international agencies like the UNEP. This highlights China's new contributions to global ecological civilization, receiving universal praise from the international community.
"China's continuous progress on the path of ecological civilization construction brings a ray of hope to global ecological civilization." John B. Cobb Jr. believes: "China has shown the world that environmental protection and economic development are not mutually exclusive; the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics performs better in this regard than the Western capitalist system." Cobb stated, "China's great proposal to move toward an ecological civilization is a massive contribution made by 21st-century China to the world."
"In global environmental governance, the world needs the 'China Model'." Erik Solheim, former Executive Director of the UNEP, believes that the world needs China's example. "We look forward to seeing China's leadership and seeing the development concept of ecological civilization construction become a global concept, not just a Chinese one." Janice Weatherley-Singh, Director of EU Strategic Relations for the Wildlife Conservation Society's Europe program, also believes: "While achieving rapid economic development, China has innovated models and vigorously protected natural resources and biodiversity, accumulating rich experience." China has established a territorial spatial planning system with clear goals, responsibilities, and rights, implemented differentiated regulatory methods for natural ecological space use, and delineated "ecological protection red lines," providing an excellent example for promoting biodiversity conservation and strengthening inter-departmental government cooperation.
"China not only fulfills its own promises through practical actions but also lays an important foundation for the world's eco-economic development." An article on South Africa's Independent Online (IOL) website said that China has made great strides in increasing forest coverage in recent years. "By vigorously promoting national afforestation, China's 'appearance' [6] is constantly improving. China is moving toward the world with a vibrant green look. China's experience in green development is worth learning from." British economist Christopher Goodecho believes that China has laid an important foundation for the world's ecological economy. "China regards ecological civilization construction as an important goal of national development and adheres to a green, inclusive, and sustainable development path." Nasser Bouchiba, President of the African-Chinese Cooperation for Development Association in Morocco, stated that countries like Morocco have begun to draw on China's precious experience in desertification control, which is the valuable wealth China has created for the world.