On January 11, 2024, the CPC Central Committee and the State Council issued "Opinions on Comprehensively Advancing the Construction of a Beautiful China". The strategic tasks of the "Beautiful China" construction can be traced back to the pioneering and experimental construction of "Beautiful Zhejiang". Zhejiang has played a significant demonstrative role in the process of modernization that realizes the harmonious coexistence of humans and nature.

The Inherent Advantages and Practical Achievements of "Beautiful Zhejiang"

New breakthroughs in the construction of ecological civilization. Blessed with favorable ecological conditions and natural resource endowments, Zhejiang's landscape, which is characterized by "seven parts mountain, one part water, and two parts farmland", houses the picturesque scenery and grand rivers and mountains of "the land of Zhejiang." As a pioneer and creator of new chapters, Zhejiang maintains ecological balance and promotes harmonious and shared co-existence and prosperity between humans and nature. With the empowerment of digital technology, Zhejiang is building a modern ecological governance system, continuously advancing ecological wealth and benefits for the people. The province remains committed to following a path of high-quality development and high-level protection, promoting mutual growth between the two." The window of Zhejiang's ecological civilization construction" showcases "the governance of Beautiful China's ecological construction."

New advancements in the improvement of living environments. In 2003, the "Green Rural Revival Program" (This project was aimed at demonstrating advanced models of rural development in a thousand villages and implementing comprehensive improvement measures in ten thousand villages to enhance the overall living conditions, economic vitality, and cultural aspects of rural areas.) initiated by Xi Jinping, then Party Secretary of Zhejiang Provincial Committee, officially kicked off. By the end of 2022, Zhejiang had successfully established 70 picturesque demonstration counties, 743 scenic routes, 724 model towns, 2,170 characteristic boutique villages, and more than 3 million beautiful courtyards through the project.

New Achievements in Pollution Control Actions. Zhejiang has taken the governance of "five types of water" (i.e., treatment of wastewater, floodwaters, drainage, water supply, and water conservation) as a leader to strengthen the management and protection of river and lake water sources, reduce water pollution, and use strong institutional measures to rectify polluting enterprises. The province promotes the use of clean energy and intensifies the governance of industrial emissions, enhancing urban environmental improvement efforts. Zhejiang also advances green agriculture, deepens the risk control of soil pollution, and isolates pollution sources from arable land soil. The province has established itself as a pioneer and demonstrator of green and low-carbon development, painting a new picture of the "Qiantang River" with high-quality charm and a high level of aesthetic appeal.

Zhejiang is accelerating the integrated development of urban and rural areas and fully advancing the revitalization of rural areas, standing firm and brave at the forefront of the strategic process of building a "Beautiful China", forever at the crest of the tide.

The Comprehensive Path to Advancing the Construction of "Beautiful China"

Deepening the Guidance for Provincial Ecological Civilization Construction Examples. Taking Zhejiang's construction of an ecological civilization as a model example, it harnesses the pioneering exploratory role of demonstration to drive action, strengthens the formulation and implementation of national ecological civilization construction policies and regulations, enhances the public's awareness of ecological and environmental protection, and structures a "profound" force for improving the ecological environment. Using digital technology to leverage strategic restructuring and systemic reshaping in deep-layered reform and governance, it bases itself on the development of ecological industrial agriculture. It promotes a deep integration of livable and business-friendly qualities with ecological environmental protection, weaving production, life, and ecology throughout the construction of "Beautiful China". With categorized policies and differentiated governance by region, it applies meticulous construction to make the "Beautiful Zhejiang" a starting point for improving and enhancing the quality of the "Most Beautiful China".

Constructing a harmonious and beautiful environment for urban and rural residential places throughout the region. Anchoring the strategy of coordinated urban-rural development, sustainable land planning policies are adopted that focus on the scientific and sustainable nature of urban and rural planning and construction. This enhances the level of urban infrastructure construction and improves the urban living environment. Based on the rural revitalization strategy, the "Lucid Waters and Lush Mountains are Invaluable Assets" theory is put into practice with a higher historical perspective to advance the construction of a beautiful China in the new era. Equal emphasis is placed on protecting the natural environment and enhancing the quality of rural environmental construction, continuously shaping and improving the national cultural spirit, and moving toward the modernization goal of the "Most Beautiful China".

Actively promoting the green and low-carbon transition for pollution prevention and control. Focusing on winning the battle against pollution, we should actively and steadily advance key tasks such as achieving peak carbon emissions and carbon neutrality. And it is also imperative to continue to push for energy conservation and emission reduction, pollution prevention and control, low-carbon lifestyles, and green transformation. We also should strive for synergistic efficiency in reducing pollution and lowering carbon emissions to promote a comprehensive upgrade and transformation of economic and social development. With steadfast dedication and persistent efforts, we solidly achieve global goals for pollution prevention and green low-carbon transformation. This propels the construction of ecological civilization and "Beautiful China" to new heights. By embracing sustainability concept, we should foster harmonious coexistence between humans and nature, realizing the vision of "Most Beautiful China". We will contribute to building a community with a shared future for humanity and a beautiful Earth, supporting the protection of China’s environment and the future of our planet.

On the path to Chinese-style modernization, "Beautiful Zhejiang" has set a good precedent, and the construction of "Beautiful China" is timely.

(Authors: Dr.Xu Da, from Institute of Ecological Civilization, Zhejiang A&F University, and Dr.Ni Hao, from Research Center for Regional Coordinated Development, Zhejiang University.)