China's green philosophy could help resolve global crises, expert says

The ecological civilization China promotes that emphasizes harmony between humanity and nature will help address the prominent problems that have plagued the industrial civilization, an expert said.

Gong Weibin, vice-president of the National Academy of Governance, made the remarks during an online symposium themed "The study and implementation of the Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization" on Monday in Beijing.

Organized by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, the event follows in the vein of President Xi's belief that "harmony between humanity and nature" must play a strong role in China's modernization, which he stated during the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in October.

Gong said China's green modernization efforts have contributed to the development of human civilization.

Due to the frequency of environmental crises, Western countries have followed their own green paths, he said. While beefing up environmental governance at home, they have been exporting their industries on a large scale.

Though these efforts have to some extent relieved the strained relationship between humanity and nature in those countries, irreparable conflicts between rampant capital expansion and the environment persist, he said.

The exportation of Western countries' industries has led to the mass consumption of natural resources in developing nations, he noted. Such a development style has resulted in moral crises.

"The birth and establishment of every new kind of civilization must address conflicts and problems that previous kinds cannot readily resolve," he said.

Based on in-depth reflection on the traditional modernization methods of Western countries, the Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization has made harmony between humanity and nature an essential requirement of Chinese modernization.

Stressing that all members of the international community should work together to build a sound global eco-environment, the Thought coordinates the interests of China and all other nations.

"It has made unique contributions in efforts to address the dilemmas and crises in mankind's development process," he said.