Hong Kong Bauhinia Magazine: 

Fujian is the first national ecological civilization pilot zone. It is a "green" province. Could you share with us Fujian's practices and measures taken to preserve its ecology and environment? Thank you.

Zhao Long:

Thanks for your appreciation of Fujian's eco-environment. I will answer this question. 

This last question concerns the eco-environment, which is an important issue and an advantage of Fujian. General Secretary Xi Jinping once pointed out that ecological resources are Fujian's most valuable assets, and ecological advantages are its best competitive edge, which make it crucial for the province to exert the greatest efforts to advance ecological civilization. Fujian takes great pride in its eco-environment and feels the weight of its responsibilities for ecological conservation. During his tenure in Fujian, the general secretary laid out a visionary strategic plan for building Fujian into an ecological province. Major media outlets recently reported that when working in Fujian, the general secretary advanced the ecological transformation of Yundang Lake in Xiamen, inland waterways in Fuzhou, and Mulanxi River in Putian, and promoted soil erosion control in Changting county, among many other important practices, and helped the province achieve remarkable ecological progress. Today, Fujian boasts clear blue skies and a poetic land of greenery. It's truly a natural gallery and a paradise on earth.

To advance human civilization, we must pursue ecological progress. We know deeply that a sound ecosystem is fundamental to a thriving civilization. We must respect nature, abide by its laws, and protect it. We understand that mountains, waters, forests, farmlands, lakes, grasslands, and deserts form a community of life whose ecosystems must be conserved systematically to promote ecological progress. We also appreciate that lush mountains and lucid waters are invaluable assets. A superb eco-environment is a public good that benefits all and offers the most equally accessible form of welfare. People are happy to live amid green mountains and clear waters, while these natural assets can be transformed into social and economic wealth.

While doing our work, we gained a deep understanding that the eco-environment is of great importance and is extremely fragile, so we have to protect it like we protect our eyes, preserve the mountains, waters, and vegetation across Fujian, and always take pride in our lush mountains and lucid waters. What we do mainly involves three things. First, we will promote green and low-carbon development. We will continue accelerating the green transformation of the industrial structure, energy structure, transportation modes, and urban-rural development. Green lifestyles involving consumption, housing and transportation will be strongly encouraged. We will promote the recycling of resources, striving to create a resource-saving and environmentally-friendly society. Second, we will make efforts to keep our skies blue, waters clear, and lands clean. Last year, the Central Environmental Protection Inspection Team carried out a thorough inspection of Fujian, discovering unsolved problems in pollution prevention and control. Prompted by inspection and rectification requirements, we will deepen environmental improvement and defuse hidden pollution risks. We are currently working on formulating a plan for this purpose. After rectification, Fujian's eco-environment will experience another significant improvement. We will be able to create a beautiful homeland with amazing sights of blue skies and white clouds, starry nights, clear waters and green shores, fish swimming merrily, azure seas and silver beaches, dolphins chasing waves, a picturesque countryside and more livable environment. Third, we will make more efforts to protect and restore the eco-environment and optimize territorial space development pattern. Fujian has proposed creating beautiful cities, villages, rivers, lakes and bays, as well as green, low-carbon industrial zones. We will continue to take a holistic and systematic approach to conserving and improving mountain, water, forest, farmland, grassland, and sandy land ecosystems in the Minjiang River Basin and Jiulong River Basin. These two rivers are the mother rivers of Fujian, and we must preserve them well to better benefit the people. Also, we will improve the nature reserve system centering around the Wuyishan National Park to improve the diversity, stability and sustainability of the ecosystem.

Fujian's mountains and waters have taken on a new look. An excellent eco-environment and profound culture make up the stunning beauty of Fujian and make it an attractive place for refreshing and enjoyable experiences. We earnestly welcome people from home and abroad to visit Fujian and explore the exquisite mountains and waters, the vast sea and clear, blue sky, as well as our ancient red-brick houses and sacred revolutionary sites. "Refreshing Fujian" will undoubtedly live up to your expectations of a distant and poetic land. This is my final answer. Thank you, everyone!

Chen Wenjun:

Thank you, Mr. Zhao. Thank you, all speakers and journalists. Today's press conference concludes now. Goodbye!

Translated and edited by Zhang Rui, Wang Wei, Qin Qi, Liu Sitong, Xu Xiaoxuan, Wang Yanfang, Lin Liyao, Ma Yujia, Wang Ziteng, Cui Can, Liu Caiyi, Wang Qian, Yan Xiaoqing, Li Huiru, Zhang Junmian, David Ball, Rochelle Beiersdorfer and Jay Birbeck. In case of any discrepancy between the English and Chinese texts, the Chinese version is deemed to prevail.