Liu Siyang:

Due to the time limit, let's have the last question.

Radio Algeria:

We have noticed from the report to the 20th CPC National Congress, citing that to pursue green development and promote harmony between humanity and nature when planning the development. This is an important strategic issue for China. How to ensure the efficient execution of the strategy? Thank you. 

Mu Hong: 

You raised a very good question. The report to the 20th CPC National Congress makes it clear that we must remember to maintain harmony between humanity and nature when planning our development. This is an intrinsic requirement of high-quality development. Harmony between humanity and nature is an important feature of Chinese modernization. 

Mr. Sun has just touched upon this issue, and I would like to add some more details. 

Over the past decade, we have acted on the idea that lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets, and witnessed historic, transformative and comprehensive changes in ecological environment. Across the country there are more blue skies, greener mountains and cleaner waters. This is one of the huge changes felt most directly by the people. The average concentration of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) has dropped by 34.8%, and the percentage of days with good or excellent air quality has risen to 87.5% in cities at or above prefectural level. Energy consumption per unit of GDP, or energy intensity, has declined by 26.4%. The average annual growth of energy consumption was 3%, while the country's GDP grew at an average annual rate of 6.6%. Water consumption per 10,000 yuan of value-added by industry decreased by 55%, and the output rate of major resources increased by 58%. It can be said that we have achieved remarkable results in the transition toward green development. Territorial space planning has been improved; major progress has been made in the development of the national park-based nature reserve system; and efforts have been stepped up to further implement the development strategy of the Yangtze River Economic Belt to ensure well-coordinated environmental protection, and the strategy for ecological conservation and high-quality development in the Yellow River Basin. These concrete actions have yielded tangible results which have brought a strong sense of gain to the people, and the idea that lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets has been more widely embraced.

Ecological conservation is of fundamental importance for the sustainable development of the Chinese nation. We must stay committed to sustainable development, do more to promote green, circular and low-carbon development, and continue to pursue a model of sound development featuring improved production, higher living standards and healthy ecosystems. The report has also made systematic arrangements on this respect. First, we will accelerate the transition to a model of green development. We will work faster to adjust and improve the industrial structure, the energy mix and the composition of the transportation sector; implement a comprehensive conservation strategy; encourage green consumption; and promote green and low-carbon ways of production and life. Second, we will intensify pollution prevention and control. We will continue to control pollution in a lawful, targeted and science-based way; make further efforts to keep our skies blue, waters clear and lands clean; continue to improve living environments in both urban and rural areas; and do more to modernize the environmental governance system. Third, we will enhance diversity, stability and sustainability in our ecosystems. We will hasten our efforts in preserving and restoring key ecosystems, and carry out major biodiversity protection projects. Fourth, we will work actively and prudently toward the goals of reaching peak carbon emissions and achieving carbon neutrality. We will promote concerted efforts to cut carbon emissions, reduce pollution, expand green development and pursue economic growth; exercise better control over the amount and intensity of energy consumption, particularly of fossil fuels, and gradually transition toward controlling both the amount and intensity of carbon emissions; and actively involve ourselves in global governance in response to climate change.

Achieving harmony between humanity and nature is a major issue not only for the Chinese people, but for all the people of the world. We will focus on playing our part well, and at the same time, call for the joint efforts of the international community. Thank you. 

Liu Siyang: 

Thank you to our six speakers and all friends from the media. Today's press conference is hereby concluded.

Translated and edited by Zhang Jiaqi, Wang Wei, Xu Xiaoxuan, Zhang Lulu, Li Huiru, Liu Sitong, Zhang Junmian, Zhou Jing, Zhu Bochen, Huang Shan, Wang Qian, Zhang Liying, Yuan Fang, He Shan, Wang Yiming, David Ball and Daniel Xu. In case of any discrepancy between the English and Chinese texts, the Chinese version is deemed to prevail.

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