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

"The illegal construction in the Qinling Mountains is a big lesson. From now on, any official working in Shaanxi should, above all, learn this lesson, avoid repeating the same mistake and work as a guardian of the ecological environment of the Qinling Mountains," emphasized President Xi Jinping during his inspection tour to northwest China's Shaanxi Province this week.

The incident Xi cited involved more than 1,100 illegally constructed villas being demolished in Qinling and major local government officials being sacked or investigated by judicial organs, thanks to the direct intervention of the central leadership.

This is the second time in less than a month that the Chinese leader had stressed the importance of ecological protection, which he noted should not be sacrificed for a blind pursuit of GDP growth, sending a strong signal that the government is committed to green growth and sustainable development.

The coronavirus pandemic has posed great challenges to the country's goal of eradicating poverty by the end of this year, with China's economy shrinking by 6.8 percent in the first three months. However, it is not a reason to compromise ecological protection.

During his stay in Shaanxi, President Xi highlighted the coordinated management of mountain, water, forest, land, lake and grassland to safeguard a working and living environment of blue skies, green fields and clean water. 

He underlined the importance of continuing to convert crop fields into forests and grasslands, promoting a comprehensive treatment of desertification and soil erosion, and improving the ecological environment in the Yellow River basin. His instructions demonstrate the determination and will to adhere to a path of sustainable development.

Still, President Xi illustrated how poverty alleviation and ecological protection are intricately linked, noting that clean water and green mountains are both natural and economic wealth. During his visit to a tea industry demonstration park, he urged those who have benefited from growing tea to lift themselves out of poverty by developing tea-related businesses that pursue green growth.

The green development path China is pursuing has won widespread recognition from around the world. Hans-Josef Fell, founder and president of Germany's Energy Watch Group, said that China has made great efforts in ecological conservation, achieved fruitful results and its large-scale afforestation projects have turned more and more deserts into oases.

Nicholas Rosellini, United Nations resident coordinator in China, pointed out in an article that "the benefits China has reaped by fostering its renewable energy sector and the green economy also offer a prime counter-example to the mistaken belief that economic vitality and growth are incompatible with the efforts to combat climate change."

As President Xi stated: "If humanity doesn't fail nature, nature won't fail us." No matter what difficulties are ahead, China will continue along a path of green development. The affluence the nation will achieve this year will be up to standard economically, politically, culturally, socially and ecologically.

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