Editor's note: Xin Ge, a special commentator on current affairs for CGTN, is a research fellow at the Institute of Public Policy and Governance, Shanghai University of Finance and Economics (SUFE), and a chair associate professor at the School of Public Economics and Administration, SUFE. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily those of CGTN.

China's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–2030) marks a pivotal stage for translating the "Beautiful China" vision from blueprint to reality. The newly released Recommendations of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee for Formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development outline a dual, mutually reinforcing path toward ecological civilization: Accelerating the green transformation of development models and deepening the fight against pollution.

The recommendations place "green transformation of development models" at the core of China's modernization agenda. History has shown that environmental degradation stems from extensive, high-carbon growth patterns. Without greening the industrial base, end-of-pipe treatments merely postpone the problem. The question for the 15th Five-Year Plan period is no longer whether to transform, but how to transform faster and more effectively.

Industrial upgrading offers the fundamental route to cutting emissions at the source. From ultra-low-emission retrofits in heavy industries such as steel and chemicals to cultivating strategic emerging and future industries, the focus is on boosting total-factor productivity and decoupling growth from pollution.

This means both performing "green surgery" on traditional sectors and expanding new ones so that green becomes the defining mark of China's new quality productive forces.

Green industries themselves are vital engines of the Beautiful China initiative. Whether solar panels track the desert sun, new-energy vehicles navigate city streets, or circular-economy systems turn "urban minerals" into resources, these sectors generate economic value while supplying society with clean energy, green products, and environmental technologies. They are both pollution terminators and ecological enablers. The 15th Five-Year Plan aims to make this industrial form – embodying the principle that "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets" – the mainstream of the economy, eliminating the very soil that breeds pollution.

Promoting such transformation is no small feat. It demands breakthroughs in technology, capital, markets, and mindsets. But by raising the "green content" of industry, China gains both development's "gold content" and the "ecological capacity" essential for blue skies and clear waters. This is the economic foundation for building a "Beautiful China."

If industrial upgrading is the offensive campaign for change, then advancing the "three major battles" against air, water, and soil pollution is the defensive line safeguarding public welfare. These battles, reaffirmed in the recommendations, represent both policy continuity and people's most tangible measure of a "Beautiful China."

The battle for blue skies is shifting from tackling fine particulate matter (PM2.5) to synergistic control of multiple pollutants. With PM2.5 largely reduced, ozone (O₃) pollution has emerged as the new challenge. The next stage will target coordinated reduction of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and nitrogen oxides (NOx), demanding more scientific, cross-regional, and multi-pollutant governance rather than piecemeal measures.

The battle for clear waters will move beyond simply meeting water-quality standards toward restoring aquatic ecosystem health – "rivers with water, fish, and grass." The focus will expand from chemical indicators like chemical oxygen demand, a measure of water, and ammonia nitrogen to ecological metrics such as biodiversity and ecological flow. Coordinated management of water resources, water environment, and water ecology will be central to this effort.

The battle for clean land will evolve from pilot projects to systematic risk management. Soil contamination is insidious and complex. The emphasis will be on strict prevention of new pollution and rigorous control of existing risks, particularly on farmland and construction sites. This is a long-term campaign to ensure that people can "eat and live at ease."

These three battles represent not only environmental goals but also major public welfare undertakings. Through strict standards and law enforcement, they secure environmental quality for citizens while sending clear market signals that guide industries toward green transformation.

The recommendations for China's 15th Five-Year Plan view industrial upgrading and the three major battles as the two sides of the same coin. They are not in a tug-of-war but act as gears and chains driving one another forward.

On one hand, high-level protection compels high-starting-point upgrading. Stricter environmental standards and tighter access rules may bring short-term pain to some firms, but in the long run, they serve as a catalyst for innovation and market renewal. They accelerate the elimination of outdated capacity, encourage environmental investment, and spur enterprises to modernize. Without such pressure, green transformation would lack urgency.

On the other hand, high-efficiency upgrading supports high-level protection. As pollution control reaches deeper and more complex stages, traditional end-of-pipe methods alone are inadequate. The "three battles" now depend on technological and industrial advances – smart monitoring systems, precision treatment equipment, and digital environmental management platforms – all products of industrial innovation. Thus, the progress of green industries provides the material and technological backbone for sustained environmental improvement.

The bugle for building a "Beautiful China" during the 15th Five-Year Plan has sounded. China stands at a historic juncture where green transformation is both an economic necessity and a moral imperative. By powering development with the "green engine" of industrial upgrading and fortifying the "safety net" of environmental protection, the country can achieve a genuine win-win: high-quality growth and a healthy environment.

(If you want to contribute and have specific expertise, please contact us at opinions@cgtn.com. Follow @thouse_opinions on X, formerly Twitter, to discover the latest commentaries in the CGTN Opinion Section.)