Seminar highlights global significance of President Xi's eco-civilization concept

The Seminar on the Global Significance of the Concept "Lucid Waters and Lush Mountains Are Invaluable Assets" was held in Beijing on Thursday, with international representatives noting that the concept, proposed by President Xi Jinping, carries global significance and reflects China's contribution to solving environmental challenges and advancing sustainable development.

Jointly hosted by the Research Center for Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization and Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy Studies Centre, the event marked the upcoming 20th anniversary of the concept in 2025. Officials, diplomats and experts praised its role in aligning economic growth with ecological protection.

The meeting pointed out that the concept has provided scientific guidance for solving the dilemma of development and protection, and for realizing harmonious coexistence between human and nature, adding that it is an innovative achievement with Chinese characteristics which conforms to the trend of development, and leads the progress of civilization.

International representatives at the conference said that the concept belongs to both China and the world. It provides Chinese wisdom and solutions for solving global ecological and environmental problems and advancing global sustainable development.

They called for deeper international cooperation to promote eco-friendly modernization, and jointly build a clean, beautiful and sustainable world.

The seminar brought together representatives from UN agencies, foreign embassies in China, international NGOs and leading universities and think tanks from around the world, including the United States, United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Belgium, Hungary, Uzbekistan, Sri Lanka, Azerbaijan and Jordan.

Xi proposed the concept on August 15, 2005, when he was visiting Yucun Village in east China's Zhejiang Province, where he praised the villagers' decision to shut down limestone mines and cement factories after the industry caused severe damage to the environment. Xi was then the Party chief of Zhejiang.

Yucun has now successfully turned to green industries, including ecological tourism, for a more sustainable development, providing a fine example of the green transition taking place across the nation.