Lucid waters and lush mountains: China's green vision and its value to Africa

For two decades, China's concept of "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets" has reshaped its environmental policies, integrating ecological protection with economic and social development, and guiding the vision of a "Beautiful China."

First proposed by President Xi Jinping in Zhejiang in 2005, the "two mountains" concept links a healthy environment (green mountains) to tangible economic benefits (gold mountains).

Zhang Yanru from Zhejiang Normal University explained:

"The concept has fundamentally changed the mindset of opposing economic growth to environmental protection. It is now a strategic guide for China's harmonious development between humans and nature."

Zhejiang Province, the concept's birthplace, has tackled pollution, promoted low-carbon transformation, and implemented landmark programs like the "811 Action" to restore rivers and improve rural green prosperity.

From Kenya, Ali-said Matano, Blue Economy Advisor and Regional Director of the Africa Centre for Environment and Water Services, highlighted the concept's resonance in Africa:

"In Africa, agriculture, fisheries, and forestry all depend on environmental conservation. In Lake Victoria Basin, the health of the water is determined by what happens in the surrounding catchment, exactly the link between lucid waters and lush mountains."

China's green leadership is visible in its global standing as the largest installer of hydropower, wind, and solar capacity.

It's estimated that over the past ten years, average global costs for wind power and photovoltaic have fallen by more than 60 percent and 80 percent, respectively, with China playing a decisive role.

In Africa, China is deepening green cooperation through initiatives like the China-Africa Green Industrial Chain Fund, marine observation partnerships, and biodiversity protection programs.

Matano praised existing platforms:

"There is a China-Africa Environmental Cooperation Center in Nairobi working closely with UNEP. This can become a strong pillar for future collaboration."

Looking ahead, both experts stressed that the "lucid waters, lush mountains" vision has grown from a local experiment in Zhejiang to a principle with global relevance, offering a shared blueprint for China and Africa's sustainable future.