Guangming Daily excerpted Secretary Sun Jinlong's speech.
Sun Jinlong, Secretary of the Party Group of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment
Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, China's ecological civilization construction has undergone historic, turning point, and global changes from theory to practice, and the construction of a beautiful China has taken significant steps forward. We must deeply appreciate the power of truth and practical power contained in this important idea, and always be steadfast believers, active disseminators, and faithful practitioners.
This important ideology insists on combining the basic principles of Marxism with the practice of ecological civilization construction in China, and with the excellent traditional ecological culture of China, promoting a significant transformation of ecological civilization construction in the new era from practical exploration to scientific theoretical guidance. The consciousness and initiative of the whole Party and the whole country to promote green development have significantly increased, and the concept of 'green mountains and clear waters are as valuable as mountains of gold and silver' has become a consensus and action of the whole society.
This important ideology fully demonstrates a strong sense of purpose, profound concern for the people, and a firm stance towards the people. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, our party has resolutely declared war on pollution, adhered to the principles of ecology benefiting the people, ecology benefiting the people, and ecology serving the people. We have made solving prominent ecological and environmental problems a priority area for people's livelihoods, accelerated the improvement of ecological and environmental quality, and significantly enhanced the people's sense of gain, happiness, and security in the ecological environment.
This important ideology, with its clear reform orientation, systematic reform ideas, and scientific reform methods, has guided the reform of the ecological civilization system in the new era to achieve significant results. The ecological civilization system has been systematically reshaped, and the modernization level of the ecological environment governance system and governance capacity has been significantly improved, providing strong impetus and guarantee for the construction of ecological civilization.
This important idea has opened up a new realm for the theory and practice of sustainable development for humanity, and has been widely recognized and endorsed by the international community.
We must firmly support the "two consolidations" and resolutely uphold the "two safeguards", thoroughly implement the spirit of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, firmly establish and practice the concept that green mountains and clear waters are as valuable as mountains of gold and silver, take carbon peak and carbon neutrality as the driving force, work together to promote carbon reduction, pollution reduction, green expansion, and growth, build a solid ecological security barrier, enhance green development momentum, and strive to make new significant progress in building a beautiful China.