A Roadmap to Sustainability

Beautiful China is not just a trendy term or catchy slogan designed to highlight China’s charm; it is a key goal in China’s development strategy. In 2015, the Fifth Plenary Session of the 18th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China introduced the concept of innovative, coordinated, green, open, and shared development to build a beautiful China. The five aspects were elaborated in the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-2020). Beautiful China is a concept guided by green development, centred on the people, focused on tangible results, and supported by strong policies and institutional frameworks. This initiative embodies a series of theoretical and practical achievements by China to enhance public well-being, protect the ecological environment, and promote sustainable development. Moreover, it also represents an important initiative by China to actively engage in global sustainable development.

Green development

Green development is the defining feature of a beautiful China, and promoting low-carbon growth is the key path to doing it.

China’s green development initiative is guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilisation, a philosophical and scientific framework based on over 40 years of administrative experience at various levels. For example, while working in Fujian Province, Xi led the integrated planning of Yundang Lake, emphasising governance based on law, respect for nature, and scientific management. These principles – focused on people-centred governance, collective collaboration, and shared benefits – have inspired current practices for protecting and restoring China’s marine ecosystems. During his tenure in Zhejiang Province, he proposed the theory that “lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets,” highlighting the close link between environmental protection and economic development.

President Xi’s thought on ecological civilisation is deeply rooted in the Chinese concept of harmony between humanity and nature while also incorporating global sustainable development practices. China’s dual carbon goals, which aim to peak carbon emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060, are a concrete application of this philosophy. As these plans are progressively implemented, China’s green and low-carbon transition will be clearly visible to the world. It is anticipated that after 2030, China will significantly reduce its carbon emissions, adopt greener production methods, and achieve greater ecological security. These ambitious objectives will help China realise its vision of building a beautiful China by mid-century.

Sustainable production

As a global manufacturing powerhouse, China faces a major challenge: How to increase industrial production while ensuring environmental sustainability?

According to the National Bureau of Statistics, China has maintained its position as the world’s top manufacturing country since 2010. In 2012, China’s industrial added value exceeded 20 trillion yuan ($2.7 trillion), growing at an average annual rate of 5.7 percent from 2013 to 2023. By 2022, China’s share of global manufacturing output had risen to 30.2 percent, up from 22.5 percent in 2012.

Given China’s central role in global industrial growth and its ongoing industrialisation process, the integration of green development into its manufacturing technologies and industrial strategies is closely watched. To balance productivity growth with environmental protection, China has accelerated the construction of a green production model and optimised its industrial structure. For energy-intensive and high-emission industries such as coal, steel, cement, and petroleum refining, China has implemented strict monitoring and control measures while introducing various incentives to accelerate the transition to green and low-carbon production.

Since 2017, China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has been selecting national-level “green factories,” recognising enterprises excelling in green development. By October 2024, 5,095 factories had been certified as national green factory, accounting for over 18 percent of China’s total manufacturing output. It is projected that by 2030, this share will exceed 40 percent.

Rural revitalisation

China’s progress in ecological civilisation aims to ensure that everyone benefits from environmental advantages. In a world increasingly focused on sustainable development, China’s green initiatives – particularly its successes in rural green transition – offer valuable inspiration for other nations, especially developing countries.

The construction of beautiful villages is a key component of the vision for a beautiful China. In 2023, during my field study in Zhejiang’s rural areas, I visited Anji County, the birthplace of the “lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets” concept and a pioneer in China’s  initiative to build a beautiful countryside.

I also explored some mountainous regions and less-developed districts, such as Jinyun, one of Zhejiang’s 26 mountain districts. In Jinyun, I was captivated by the beauty of Lianfeng Village and its well-developed infrastructure. I asked a local official how they had achieved such success. He explained that they had focused on two key actions: first, making the village clean, and second, making it beautiful. Before the renovation, the village was messy and dirty; houses were dilapidated, and the community was burdened with over a million yuan ($140,000) in debt. Through a series of environmental reforms, the village transformed into a popular tourist destination. Additionally, it attracted businesses that established “common prosperity workshops,” resolving employment issues for villagers and boosting the village’s collective economy.

In western China, ecological development features diverse models. In 2021, in Minning Town, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, I witnessed how China’s targeted assistance mechanism contributed to local desert reforestation. Through this mechanism, technology, funding, and professional expertise were transferred seamlessly from Fujian to Ningxia, significantly advancing both ecological restoration and economic development. Minning’s transformation exemplifies successful cooperation, shifting from unilateral aid to win-win collaboration.

China’s green development practices and the building of a beautiful China are complex and comprehensive processes. They involve both top-down strategic planning and bottom-up innovation, along with active public participation. This approach, adhering to the principle of adapting to local conditions, enables the ecological civilisation concept to manifest in diverse practical forms. The vitality of green development is thus visible across the country.

China’s approach, rooted in traditional knowledge and contemporary experience, aligns closely with the global consensus on ecological protection and restoration. China’s green development model presents an inspiring path for sustainable growth on a global scale.

The author is Zimbabwean Ph.D. Student in International Affairs and Global Governance, Zhejiang University.