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Clear waters and green mountains

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Clear waters and green mountains slogans at the Changsha Ecological Zoo
"Clear waters and green mountains are [as valuable as] gold and silver mountains" shown on a billboard in Anji County
Clear waters and green mountains
Traditional Chinese綠水青山
Simplified Chinese绿水青山
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyinlǜ shuǐ, qīng shān

Clear waters and green mountains, alternatively green mountains are gold mountains or two mountain theory,[1] refers to a political slogan on environmental policy formulated by Chinese Communist Party (CCP) general secretary Xi Jinping. The full slogan is "clear waters and green mountains are as valuable as gold and silver mountains" (Chinese: 綠水青山就是金山银山).[2]: 4 [a][3][4]

History and usage

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Anji County is a county under the jurisdiction of Huzhou, Zhejiang Province, where the local economy was once in a relatively underdeveloped state, and the people of the whole county hope to accelerate the county's economic development. However, local people have always been confused about whether economic development must be at the expense of the environment. In particular, villagers in Yucun (Chinese: 余村), which Xi visited, have opened mines and cement factories to promote economic development, capitalizing on natural resources. In the 1990s, Yucun's collective economic income amounted to more than 3 million yuan per year, making it Anji's "richest village," and more than half of the village's 280 families worked in the mines. However, local villagers have been worried about the explosions, air pollution and water pollution caused by mining, which has led to a decrease in the production of bamboo shoots in the area, and the ecosystem of the whole village has been seriously damaged. Similar problems were encountered in Miaoxi Township (Chinese: 妙西镇) of Huzhou, as well as in the whole of Zhejiang Province. In 2003, Huzhou proposed the goal of creating an eco-municipality, and Anji County under the jurisdiction of Huzhou also proposed the goal of creating the country's first eco-county, and decided to shut down mines, cement factories and other high-polluting enterprises. However, after the closure of the highly polluting enterprises, the local economic indicators declined, and the local people initiated a discussion on whether to continue mining.[5][6]

On August 15, 2005, Xi Jinping, then secretary of the Zhejiang Provincial Committee of the Communist China Party, made his second visit to Anji County, Huzhou City, where he held a meeting in a modest conference room in Yu Village, Tianhuangping Township.[7] When Bao Xinmin, then secretary of the Yu Village Party branch, reported on the closure of the mines, Xi recognized the local villagers' determination to shut down the quarry and cement factory, calling it a "brilliant move." Xi also devoted a major portion of his speech to systematically explaining the theory that "green water and green mountains are golden mountains and silver mountains".[8][9] On August 24, 2005, Xi Jinping published the commentary "Green water and green mountains are also golden mountains and silver mountains" in the Zhejiang Daily's New Words of Zhijiang column.[10][11]

Following the 2012 ascension of Xi as the CCP general secretary (paramount leader), the slogan has been invoked in various contexts domestically and internationally by Chinese officials, complementing existing emphasis on the achievement of ecological civilization.[2]: 4–5  It was given greater emphasis in Chinese state media beginning in 2015, after Xi began to focus more on environmental issues.[12]

On March 24, 2015, Xi Jinping presided over a meeting of the Politburo of the Chinese Communist Party and adopted the Opinions on Accelerating the Promotion of Ecological Civilization Construction, in which the concept of "green water and green mountains is golden silver mountains" was formally written into the Opinions for the first time in a central document.[13][14]

In May 2016, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) published the report "Green Water and Green Mountains are Golden Mountains: China's Ecological Civilization Strategy and Action" based on the "Two Mountains Theory",[15][16] and on October 18, 2017, the "Two Mountains Theory" was written into the report of the 19th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party. The report pointed out that "adhering to the harmonious coexistence of human beings and nature, we must establish and practice the concept that green water and green mountains are golden silver mountains", citing that China fully focus on sustainable development.[17][18][19]

On March 30, 2020, Xi Jinping, as the General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party, once again visited Yucun Village in Anji County,[20] and affirmed the practice of Yucun Village of practicing this theory, developing a green economy, and driving the villagers to increase their income and become rich, and said that the concept of the two mountains has become the consensus and action of the whole party and the whole society, and has become an important part of the new development concept.[21][22][23]

Theory

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"Green Water and Green Mountain is Gold Mountain and Silver Mountain" slogan, taken in Yushan, Changshu, China.

The Beijing Review maintains that the slogan "reflects a people-centered approach to people's wellbeing, an approach that emphasizes the importance of harmony between man and nature, and embodies the unwavering resolve of the Party and the government to preserve and protect the natural environment."[7]

"Clear waters and green mountains" alludes to what Xi observed as phases of economic development in relation to environmentalism. In the first phase, initial industrialization, little regard is given to the environment, which is sacrificed in pursuit of economic growth. As people become more aware of the importance of the environment, they call for its preservation and protection in second phase. Finally, society realizes that "clear waters and green mountains" and "gold and silver mountains" are not mutually exclusive, and in fact the former can bestow the latter.[1]

The slogan implies that economic development must accommodate economic protection.[24]

Television Production

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See also

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Other names

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  • blue waters and green mountains
  • clear rivers and lush mountains
  • clear waters and lush mountains
  • lucid waters and lush mountains

References

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  1. ^ The literal translation is "green waters and green mountains are gold mountains and silver mountains."
  1. ^ a b "Green is Gold: Clear Waters and Green Mountains are as Good as Mountains of Gold and Silver". chiculture.org.hk. Academy of Chinese Studies (中國文化研究院). 27 July 2019. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
  2. ^ a b Geall, Sam (November 2017). "Clear waters and green mountains: Will Xi Jinping take the lead on climate change?". Lowy Institute for International Policy. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  3. ^ "Xi Focus-Closeup: Mountainous village revives under Xi's ecological guidance". English.news.cn. 2023-08-15. Retrieved 2024-07-16.
  4. ^ "Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization". Regional. Retrieved 2024-07-16.
  5. ^ "谨记总书记的嘱托 安吉践行"绿水青山就是金山银山"纪事". 浙江新闻-浙江在线 (in Chinese). 2015-04-02. Retrieved 2024-07-16.
  6. ^ "习近平首次提出"两山论"，就在来这个小村庄9天后". 解放网，上观新闻-站上海，观天下 (in Chinese). 2018-04-20. Retrieved 2024-07-16.
  7. ^ a b "Key Terms to Understand Reform and Opening Up". Beijing Review. 10 January 2019. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
  8. ^ "百年瞬间丨习近平首次提出"绿水青山就是金山银山"_共产党员网". 共产党员网_中共中央组织部 (in Chinese). 2021-08-15. Retrieved 2024-07-16.
  9. ^ "习近平在浙江考察时强调 统筹推进疫情防控和经济社会发展工作 奋力实现今年经济社会发展目标任务-新华网". 新华网_让新闻离你更近 (in Chinese). 2020-04-01. Retrieved 2024-07-16.
  10. ^ "深刻理解"绿水青山就是金山银山"发展理念的科学内涵---党建网". 党建网 - 中宣部主管全国性党建网站. 2020-05-09. Retrieved 2024-07-16.
  11. ^ "绿水青山变成幸福靠山". 新闻频道_央视网(cctv.com) (in Chinese). 2023-08-15. Retrieved 2024-07-16.
  12. ^ Wang, Xiangwei (27 August 2017). "Xi faces one of his greatest tests yet: the environment". South China Morning Post. Following his resounding success in cracking down on corruption and consolidating his power, Xi has since 2015 turned his attention to the environment. China Central Television's 7pm news broadcast is the most watched news programme, through which the Chinese leadership publicises its priorities. Nowadays, it prominently features environment-related stories daily, along with Xi's words 'green mountains and clear water are equal to mountains of gold and silver'.
  13. ^ "《关于加快推进生态文明建设的意见》是我国生态文明建设的纲领性文件_重要内容提示_新闻办4_直播_新闻_中国政府网". 中国政府网_中央人民政府门户网站 (in Chinese). 2015-06-03. Retrieved 2024-07-16.
  14. ^ "中共中央 国务院关于加快推进生态文明建设的意见_滚动新闻_中国政府网". 中国政府网_中央人民政府门户网站 (in Chinese). 2016-06-03. Retrieved 2024-07-16.
  15. ^ ""两山"探源——浙江湖州"绿水青山就是金山银山"的生动实践". 中国经济网 (in Chinese). 2018-04-20. Retrieved 2024-07-16.
  16. ^ "Green is gold -- Xi Jinping innovates fight against climate change". Regional. 2021-04-22. Retrieved 2024-07-16.
  17. ^ "黄润秋：坚持"绿水青山就是金山银山"理念 促进经济社会发展全面绿色转型_滚动新闻_中国政府网". 中国政府网_中央人民政府门户网站 (in Chinese). 2023-05-26. Retrieved 2024-07-16.
  18. ^ Xiang-chao, Pan (19 December 2018). "The Theoretical Innovation and Practical Significance of The Theory about "Two Mountains" by Xi Jinping". IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science. 199: 022047. doi:10.1088/1755-1315/199/2/022047.
  19. ^ "Full text of Xi Jinping's report at 19th CPC National Congress". China. 2017-11-04. Retrieved 2024-07-16.
  20. ^ "时隔15年，习近平再到安吉县余村考察-新华网". 新华网_让新闻离你更近 (in Chinese). 2020-03-31. Retrieved 2024-07-16.
  21. ^ "时隔15年，习近平重访安吉宣示了什么_共产党员网". 共产党员网_中共中央组织部 (in Chinese). 2020-03-31. Retrieved 2024-07-16.
  22. ^ "习近平在浙江省安吉县考察_滚动新闻_中国政府网". 中国政府网_中央人民政府门户网站 (in Chinese). 2023-05-26. Retrieved 2024-07-16.
  23. ^ Ruwitch, John (2023-12-28). "A visit to Xi Jinping's model village in rural China". NPR. Retrieved 2024-07-16.
  24. ^ Li, David Daokui (2024). China's World View: Demystifying China to Prevent Global Conflict. New York, NY: W. W. Norton & Company. p. 164. ISBN 978-0393292398.
  25. ^ "政论纪录片《绿水青山就是金山银山》第一集：美丽新时代". 手机新蓝网 (in Chinese). 2015-08-13. Retrieved 2024-07-16.
  26. ^ "《青恋》首日开播 纯美生态田园世界震撼观众视界". 郭京飞_新浪娱乐_新浪网 (in Chinese). 2017-10-19. Retrieved 2024-07-16.

Further reading

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