Editor's note: The following article is taken from the Chinese-language opinion column "The Real Point."

An analysis released by the United Nations on Wednesday predicted that the global economy could shrink by up to one percent this year due to the pandemic. The International Monetary Fund said in March that the global economy had fallen into a recession "as bad or worse" than that seen in the aftermath of the 2008 global financial crisis.

As the global economy faces a gloomy outlook, China is also under great pressure in its economic and social development. As the world's second largest economy and the first country hit by the pandemic, will China's goal of building a moderately well-off society by 2020 be affected? Can China return to the old extensive development mode for the sake of good economic data?

President Xi Jinping's inspection trip to Zhejiang Province provides a clue, particularly his stop in Yucun. The village became rich decades ago by opening mines and cement factories, which also caused environmental pollution. In 2003, it decided to switch to green development, shutting down the mines and cement manufacturing, and reforesting its surrounding hills and developing tourism.

In August 2005, Xi Jinping, then Party secretary of Zhejiang Province, visited Yucun where he praised the village's transformation from developing a"stone economy" to promoting the ecological economy. This led to his belief that "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets."

In 2019, the per capita income of the village more than quintupled that recorded in 2005 to nearly 50,000 yuan, or around 7,000 U.S. dollars. As the president said when visiting the village a few days ago, the economy should not be developed at the cost of destroying the environment and "the environment itself means the economy. If you protect the environment, you will receive rewards from the environment."

The president also visited the Xixi National Wetland Park, which was opened to the public in 2005 as the first of its kind in the country. The ecological environment of the park was once severely damaged during the expansion of the provincial capital Hangzhou some twenty to thirty years ago. Over the past fifteen years, the wetland not only has helped improve the ecological environment of Hangzhou, but has also witnessed the formation of an economic, cultural and life zone centered around it, achieving both economic and social benefits.

The report of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China highlighted the country's intention of promoting a harmonious coexistence between humans and nature. Xi's inspection tour of Zhejiang has sent out a clear message: no matter how difficult it is, the Chinese government will keep its promise and work toward the stated goal.

As Xi Jinping noted during his trip, crises and opportunities always coexist and the conquering of a crisis means opportunities will come. The coronavirus pandemic has also brought about enlightenment on green development: to avoid similar crises or to take the initiative in possible ecological crises in future, mankind needs to promote green development and reinforce the building of an ecological society so that humans and nature can coexist harmoniously.

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