CNR: 

I know that Anhui province has proposed to earmark the region for comprehensive green transformation and economic and social development. How should we best understand this proposal? In addition, how can eco-environmental strengths be translated into high-quality development strengths? Thank you. 

Sun Yong:

Anhui has been gifted with beautiful landscapes. In recent years, we have acted on the principle that lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets, working toward peaking carbon dioxide emissions and achieving carbon neutrality, and vigorously advancing green and low-carbon development, with the continuous presentation of new splendors in the Yangtze River and Huai River basins. We have promoted well-coordinated environmental conservation and avoided excessive development. The banks of the Yangtze River, which used to be densely occupied with wharves and sand piles, are now filled with lush greenery and crowded with tourists. The model of cross-provincial joint ecological conservation in the Xin'an River basin has been promoted to 20 river basins in 21 provinces nationwide, and now the Xin'an River is one of the rivers with the best water quality in China. The banks of the Huai River have fertile lands and picturesque sceneries; the forest coverage rate of Mount Huang and other mountain ranges is as high as over 95%; biodiversity has also been improved in the process of restoration. As just mentioned by Mr. Wang, people can often see the Yangtze finless porpoise, known as "the panda of the water," chasing the waves of the river, and the oriental white storks, a nationally treasured bird species, flying over the Chaohu Lake. The Chinese merganser ducks, known as the "litmus test for ecology," have become frequent visitors to Anhui province in recent years. Anhui has become an important ecological barrier in the Yangtze River Delta and even the whole country.

The vivid practice of green development in Anhui province has made us deeply realize that economic development and eco-environmental protection are not a single choice but complementary and mutually reinforcing. We will thoroughly implement Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization, have a correct attitude towards performance in our work, not be moved by short-term growth and immediate interest, and continue to prioritize ecological conservation and pursue a green path to development.

First, we will continue to promote the ecologicalization of industries. We will strengthen innovation-driven and science and technology-empowered development; foster and develop green and low-carbon industries as new energy, energy conservation, and environmental protection; accelerate the green transformation of traditional industries; resolutely shut down outdated production facilities; and strive to improve the social benefits of industrial development. At the same time, we will actively build a new energy system and launch projects to boost the installed capacity of wind and solar power. The total installed capacity of renewable energy power generation reached 48.24 million kilowatts in 2023, accounting for 76% of the newly installed renewable energy capacity in China.

Second, we will continue to advance the industrialization of ecology. We will upgrade the construction of the Xin'anjiang-Qiandao Lake Ecological Environment Joint Protection Cooperation Zone and continue to deepen the implementation of the systems for the compensation of ecological conservation of surface water in Anhui province and provinces on the upper and lower reaches of the Yangtze River. We will actively develop the ecological health and wellness and ecological culture and tourism industries and explore new paths to realize their market value, such as via the development of ecosystem goods and the trading of ecological property rights. We will strictly implement a system of compensation for ecological and environmental damage to ensure reasonable returns for those who protect and restore the eco-environment.

Third, we will continue to develop a policy system. We will focus on accelerating the construction of the region's comprehensive green transformation for economic and social development, adhering to systems thinking, and strengthening financial, fiscal, taxation, and pricing policy support. We will speed up industrial transformation, promote green consumption, and make green and low-carbon production and lifestyle a common practice. This will provide stronger support for building a leading province in ecology and creating a beautiful Anhui. Thank you.