Party's urban development policies are a breath of fresh air

With the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China just around the corner, it's a good opportunity for all of us to take stock of the achievements which have been made over the past decade.

Many reports have been devoted to this theme here in China Daily, and I could quote a great deal of facts or figures to show China's impressive development in many fields over the decade since the landmark 18th National Congress of the CPC, showing how people's lives have changed for the better in the new era.

But, if you are a regular reader of this newspaper, you will no doubt be well aware of this, so I won't repeat what you are already familiar with.

Facts and figures are very useful, but what's equally valuable are personal feelings, experiences and recollections. So, rather than looking at the big picture, I will focus on this.

For me, a living embodiment of the new era has been the greening of our urban environment, how we can enjoy significantly improved air quality and spend leisure time in the increasing number of green spaces, which have appeared in our cities.

Ten years ago, it seemed that there was literally no end in sight to the pollution affecting cities such as Beijing, with smog shrouding our urban environment. So much has changed in the past decade that those unfortunate times are now no more than a distant memory.

Important policy measures in fields such as the development of renewable energy have played a major role in changing this situation for the better over the past decade.

While much of this is thanks to scientific advances, we are also increasingly using a much simpler "technology" in our urban areas to redress the environmental balance: the growing use of nature itself by planting more trees and greening more urban areas, and this is what has impressed me greatly as I reflect on the achievements and changes over the past decade.

These past 10 years have seen a literal flourishing of green spaces throughout Beijing, with urban parks appearing throughout the city.

Areas of the city, many of which were once shabby and dilapidated "urban villages" or wasteland, have been transformed by trees and vegetation into urban forest parks. Meanwhile, Beijing has also seen the development of the "greenway "throughout the city: a park-like network of walking and cycling routes, which allow residents to enjoy nature on their doorstep and also encourage us to adopt a healthier lifestyle.

The state of the environment is something that's been on my mind recently, as the media is filled with reports of soaring temperatures and occurrences of extreme flooding and droughts in many parts of the world.

The clock is ticking for humanity, but there is still time for us to resolve this situation. This fate is in the hands of all humanity. The greening of Beijing is an example of how China has contributed to this global effort.

In the new era, much has already been done, and I am looking forward to seeing how the upcoming 20th National Congress of the CPC will chart the course for further achievements to be made in the years and decades ahead.