Providing Scientific Methods and Strategic Guidance for Comprehensively Advancing the Construction of a Beautiful China

The recently published *Selected Works of Xi Jinping on Ecological Civilization*, Volume I (hereinafter referred to as the *Selected Works*), includes the most important and fundamental works of General Secretary Xi Jinping on ecological civilization construction from December 2012 to April 2025, comprising 79 reports, speeches, lectures, directives, and instructions. Closely aligned with the practice of ecological civilization construction in the New Era, the *Selected Works* precisely focuses on theoretical hotspots, actively responds to issues of widespread concern across all sectors of society, profoundly answers a series of major theoretical and practical questions concerning ecological civilization construction in the New Era, and systematically reflects the rich connotations, scientific system, and original contributions of Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization. It provides an authoritative textbook for the entire Party and the people of all ethnic groups in the country to deeply study and implement Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, especially Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization.

日前出版的《习近平生态文明文选》第一卷（以下简称《文选》）收入习近平总书记2012年12月至2025年4月期间关于生态文明建设最重要、最基本的著作，共有报告、讲话、演讲、指示、批示等79篇。《文选》紧密贴合新时代生态文明建设实践，精准聚焦理论层面的热点，积极回应社会各界广泛关注的问题，深刻回答了新时代生态文明建设的一系列重大理论和实践问题，系统反映了习近平生态文明思想的丰富内涵、科学体系和原创性贡献，为全党全国各族人民深入学习贯彻习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想特别是习近平生态文明思想提供了权威教材。

1. Systematically Reflecting the Rich Connotations, Scientific System, and Original Contributions of Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization

1.系统反映了习近平生态文明思想的丰富内涵、科学体系和原创性贡献

Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization is an important component of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. It is a major achievement in integrating the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s specific realities and with the best of traditional Chinese culture. It has elevated the Party’s understanding of the laws governing ecological civilization construction to a new height and provides the fundamental guidance for comprehensively advancing Chinese-path modernization featuring harmony between humanity and nature through the construction of a Beautiful China. The *Selected Works* fully reflects the rich connotations, scientific system, and important original contributions of Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization.

习近平生态文明思想是习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想的重要组成部分，是马克思主义基本原理同中国具体实际相结合、同中华优秀传统文化相结合的重大成果，把我们党对生态文明建设规律的认识提升到新高度，为以美丽中国建设全面推进人与自然和谐共生的现代化提供了根本遵循。《文选》对习近平生态文明思想的丰富内涵、科学体系和重要原创性贡献作了充分反映。

It fully reflects that Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization is rooted in the Marxist intellectual tradition concerning the relationship between humanity and nature, and on this basis achieves innovative development. General Secretary Xi Jinping clearly points out: “To study Marx, we must study and practice Marx’s thought on the relationship between humanity and nature.” Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization closely integrates Marxist thought on the relationship between humanity and nature, and on the dialectical unity of production and ecology, with the practice of China’s ecological civilization construction. It profoundly reveals that Chinese-path modernization is the modernization of harmony between humanity and nature, emphasizing that China cannot follow the old Western path of “pollute first, treat later.” It must adhere to ecological priority and green development, taking a civilized development path of increased production, affluent living, and healthy ecosystems, thereby advancing Marxist thought on the relationship between humanity and nature with the times. The *Selected Works* emphasizes: “The modernization we pursue is one of harmony between humanity and nature. We must not only create more material and cultural wealth to meet the people’s ever-growing needs for a better life, but also provide more high-quality ecological goods to meet the people’s ever-growing needs for a beautiful ecological environment.” It also states: “We would rather have clear waters and lush mountains than gold and silver mountains, and clear waters and lush mountains are indeed gold and silver mountains.” Among these, the proposal of landmark concepts such as “harmony between humanity and nature” and “clear waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets” not only promotes the Sinicization and modernization of Marxist ecological civilization theory but also makes it the core theoretical expression of contemporary Chinese Marxism and Marxism in the 21st century in the field of ecological civilization construction.

充分反映习近平生态文明思想植根于马克思主义关于人与自然关系的思想传统，并在此基础上实现了创新发展。习近平总书记明确指出：“学习马克思，就要学习和实践马克思主义关于人与自然关系的思想。”习近平生态文明思想将马克思主义关于人与自然关系的思想、关于生产和生态辩证统一关系的思想同中国生态文明建设实践紧密结合，深刻揭示中国式现代化是人与自然和谐共生的现代化，强调我国不可能走西方现代化先污染后治理的老路，必须坚持生态优先、绿色发展，走生产发展、生活富裕、生态良好的文明发展道路，实现了马克思主义关于人与自然关系思想的与时俱进。《文选》强调，“我们要建设的现代化是人与自然和谐共生的现代化，既要创造更多物质财富和精神财富以满足人民日益增长的美好生活需要，也要提供更多优质生态产品以满足人民日益增长的优美生态环境需要”“宁要绿水青山，不要金山银山，而且绿水青山就是金山银山”。其中，“人与自然和谐共生”“绿水青山就是金山银山”等标志性理念的提出，不仅推动马克思主义生态文明理论实现了中国化转型与时代化演进，更成为当代中国马克思主义、二十一世纪马克思主义在生态文明建设领域的核心理论表达。

It fully confirms that Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization deeply integrates and develops the core connotations of the best of traditional Chinese ecological culture. Chinese civilization, with a historical accumulation of over five thousand years, has nurtured profound and extensive ecological cultural wisdom: from the practical proposition in the *Book of Changes* of “regulating the way of heaven and earth and assisting the suitability of heaven and earth,” to the protection concept proposed in *Xunzi*: “When trees and grasses are in their prime of flowering and fruiting, axes and billhooks are not allowed to enter the mountains and forests, so as not to cut short their lives or sever their growth.” These thoughts all demonstrate the Chinese nation’s value orientation of respecting and loving nature, as well as the spiritual core of traditional ecological wisdom such as “the unity of heaven and humanity” and “the Dao follows nature.” The *Selected Works* emphasizes: “Adhere to the systematic thinking that mountains, waters, forests, fields, and lakes are a community of life” and “If humanity does not fail nature, nature will not fail humanity.” Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization systematically absorbs the ideological essence and cultural genes of the best of traditional Chinese ecological culture, clearly emphasizing the need to uphold the basic principles of respecting, conforming to, and protecting nature, practice the civilized development path of increased production, affluent living, and healthy ecosystems, and comprehensively advance the process of Chinese-path modernization featuring harmony between humanity and nature through the construction of a Beautiful China. This theoretical innovation not only continues the spiritual lineage of the best of traditional Chinese ecological culture but also endows it with a new contemporary significance that meets the needs of modern development.

充分印证习近平生态文明思想深度融合并发展了中华优秀传统生态文化的核心内涵。拥有五千余年历史积淀的中华文明，孕育了博大精深的生态文化智慧：从《易经》中“财成天地之道，辅相天地之宜”的实践主张，到《荀子》提出的“草木荣华滋硕之时，则斧斤不入山林，不夭其生，不绝其长也”的保护理念，这些思想无不彰显中华民族尊重自然、热爱自然的价值取向，以及“天人合一”“道法自然”等传统生态智慧的精神内核。《文选》强调，“坚持山水林田湖是一个生命共同体的系统思想”“人不负青山，青山定不负人”。习近平生态文明思想系统汲取了中华优秀传统生态文化中的思想精华与文化基因，明确强调必须秉持尊重自然、顺应自然、保护自然的基本准则，践行生产发展、生活富裕、生态良好的文明发展路径，并通过美丽中国建设全面推进人与自然和谐共生的现代化进程。这一理论创新不仅延续了中华优秀传统生态文化的精神血脉，更赋予其契合当代发展需求的全新时代意义。

It profoundly elucidates the core concepts and strategic pathways of Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization concerning the advancement of socialist ecological civilization construction in the New Era. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, in the face of new situations and tasks in the field of ecological civilization construction, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has, with a new vision, cognition, and concepts, injected new contemporary meaning into ecological civilization construction, promoting the formation and continuous enrichment and development of Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization, and elevating the Chinese Communist Party’s understanding of the laws governing ecological civilization construction to a new height. The *Selected Works* points out: “We must firmly establish a socialist outlook on ecological civilization, promote green development, focus on solving prominent environmental problems, strengthen the protection of ecosystems, reform the ecological and environmental supervision system, and promote the formation of a new pattern of modernization featuring harmonious development between humanity and nature.” As an organic integration of epistemology, axiology, and methodology in the field of ecological civilization construction, the *Selected Works* brings together the Party’s accumulated experience of struggle in the practice of ecological civilization construction, while also marking the latest achievements of socialist ecological civilization construction at the levels of theoretical innovation, practical innovation, and institutional innovation.

深刻阐明习近平生态文明思想关于新时代推进社会主义生态文明建设的核心理念和战略路径。党的十八大以来，面对生态文明建设领域出现的新形势与新任务，以习近平同志为核心的党中央以全新的视野、认知与理念，为生态文明建设注入了新的时代要义，推动习近平生态文明思想得以形成并不断丰富发展，将中国共产党对生态文明建设规律的认识提升至新的高度。《文选》指出，“要牢固树立社会主义生态文明观，推进绿色发展，着力解决突出环境问题，加大生态系统保护力度，改革生态环境监管体制，推动形成人与自然和谐发展现代化建设新格局”。作为生态文明建设领域认识论、价值论与方法论的有机融合体，《文选》汇聚了中国共产党在生态文明建设实践中积累的奋斗经验，同时也标志着社会主义生态文明建设在理论创新、实践创新、制度创新层面取得的最新成就。

2. Vividly Presenting the Formation and Development Process of Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization

2.生动呈现了习近平生态文明思想的形成发展过程

For a nation to stand at the forefront of the times, it cannot do without the support of theoretical thinking, let alone the guidance of correct thought. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has vigorously promoted theoretical, practical, and institutional innovation in ecological civilization, put forward a series of new concepts, new ideas, and new strategies, and led China’s ecological civilization construction to undergo historic, transformative, and comprehensive changes from theory to practice. Along with the continuous advancement of ecological civilization construction practice, the gradual deepening of theoretical research, and the constant expansion of institutional innovation, the theoretical connotations of Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization have also been continuously enriched and perfected. The *Selected Works* vividly presents the formation and development process of Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization.

一个民族要跻身时代发展的前沿，离不开理论思维的支撑，更离不开正确思想的引领。党的十八大以来，以习近平同志为核心的党中央大力推动生态文明理论创新、实践创新、制度创新，提出一系列新理念新思想新战略，引领我国生态文明建设从理论到实践都发生了历史性、转折性、全局性变化。伴随着生态文明建设实践的持续推进、理论研究的逐步深化以及制度创新的不断拓展，习近平生态文明思想的理论内涵也在持续丰富完善。《文选》生动呈现了习近平生态文明思想的形成发展过程。

This process embodies a profound people-centered sentiment that adheres to putting the people first and prioritizing the people. Consistently upholding the people’s standpoint is the core essence, value pursuit, fundamental orientation, and key source of strength for the ideals and beliefs of the Chinese Communist Party. Ecological and environmental issues are not only major political issues concerning the Party’s mission and purpose but also important social issues related to people’s well-being. The *Selected Works* points out: “A sound ecological environment is the most inclusive form of public well-being” and “Fighting the battle against pollution is a major matter concerning the vital interests of the Chinese people and an inevitable choice for building a Beautiful China.” Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization runs through the people-centered development thought, emphasizing the need to adhere to the practical requirements of benefiting, enriching, and serving the people through ecology, focus on solving prominent environmental problems that endanger the health of the masses, and continuously meet the people’s growing needs for a beautiful ecological environment. Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization not only embodies the Chinese Communist Party’s consistent value orientation of putting the people first but also highlights the political stance and value goals of socialist ecological civilization construction. It is the concrete practice and vivid manifestation of the Party’s governance philosophy in the ecological field.

这一过程凝结着坚持人民至上、以人为本的深厚人民情怀。始终坚守人民立场，是中国共产党理想信念的核心要义、价值追求、根本导向以及力量源泉的关键所在。生态环境问题不仅是关乎党的使命宗旨的重大政治议题，更是涉及民生福祉的重要社会课题。《文选》指出，“良好的生态环境是最普惠的民生福祉”“打好污染防治攻坚战是关系中国人民切身利益的大事，也是建设美丽中国的必然选择”。习近平生态文明思想将坚持以人民为中心的发展思想贯穿始终，强调要践行生态惠民、生态利民、生态为民的实践要求，聚焦解决危害群众健康的突出环境问题，持续满足人民群众对日益提升的优美生态环境需求。习近平生态文明思想既体现了中国共产党一以贯之的人民至上价值取向，也彰显了社会主义生态文明建设的政治立场与价值目标，是党治国理政理念在生态领域的具体实践与生动体现。

This process has fully verified that green development is the essential foundation of high-quality development. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has consistently adhered to implementing protection requirements in the course of development and promoting the development process amid ecological protection, providing solid support for high-quality development through high-level ecological environmental protection. This practical process has fully verified that green development is the essential foundation of high-quality development, and new quality productive forces themselves are a form of productive forces containing green attributes. The *Selected Works* [n1] emphasizes that "high-quality development and high-level protection complement and reinforce each other" and that "green development is the foundation of high-quality development, and new quality productive forces are themselves green productive forces." These scientific theses profoundly elucidate the inherent unity between ecological protection and the development of productive forces, stressing the need to fully, accurately, and comprehensively implement the new development philosophy, unswervingly follow the practical path of prioritizing ecology and pursuing green development, and solidly advance ecological environmental protection work. This development approach provides important guidance for the construction of ecological civilization and has successfully explored an effective path toward reshaping the harmonious relationship between humanity and nature, and between society and nature.

这一过程充分验证了绿色发展是高质量发展的本质底色。党的十八大以来，以习近平同志为核心的党中央始终坚持在发展进程中落实保护要求、在生态保护中推动发展进程，通过高水平生态环境保护为高质量发展提供坚实支撑。这一实践过程充分验证了绿色发展是高质量发展的本质底色，而新质生产力本身即是蕴含绿色属性的生产力形态。《文选》强调，“高质量发展和高水平保护是相辅相成、相得益彰的”“绿色发展是高质量发展的底色，新质生产力本身就是绿色生产力”。这些科学论断深刻阐释了生态保护与生产力发展的内在统一性，强调必须完整准确全面贯彻新发展理念，坚定不移走生态优先、绿色发展的实践路径，扎实推进生态环境保护工作。这一发展思路为生态文明建设提供了重要指引，成功探索出一条重塑人与自然、社会与自然和谐关系的有效路径。

This process fully demonstrates the rule-of-law concept of protecting the ecological environment with the strictest systems and the most rigorous legal framework. Systems, as an important support for establishing norms and ensuring long-term stability, play an irreplaceable role in the construction of ecological civilization. The *Selected Works* points out that "only by implementing the strictest systems and the most rigorous rule of law can reliable guarantees be provided for the construction of ecological civilization." Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, China has incorporated content related to ecological civilization construction into the constitutional system, promulgated and implemented the Environmental Protection Law known as "the strictest in history," and promoted the transformation of ecological civilization construction from rectification in key areas to a systematic governance model, from passive response to environmental problems to active ecological environmental protection, and from a participant in global environmental governance to a leader, providing solid institutional support for the in-depth advancement of ecological environmental protection work.

这一过程充分彰显了坚持用最严格制度最严密法治保护生态环境的法治理念。制度作为规范根本、保障长远的重要支撑，在生态文明建设中具有不可替代的作用。《文选》指出，“只有实行最严格的制度、最严明的法治，才能为生态文明建设提供可靠保障”。党的十八大以来，我国将生态文明建设相关内容纳入宪法体系，颁布实施了被称为“史上最严”的环境保护法，推动生态文明建设从重点领域整治向系统治理模式转型，从被动应对环境问题向主动开展生态环境保护转变，从全球环境治理的参与者向引领者转变，为生态环境保护工作的深入推进提供了坚实的制度支撑。

3. Continuously Strengthening the Solid Capabilities for Ecological Civilization Construction in the New Era

3.不断增强新时代生态文明建设的过硬本领

Looking to the future, we need to study and make good use of this authoritative textbook, the *Selected Works*, deeply study and implement Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization, and persistently exert effort in two dimensions: deepening theoretical study and strengthening practical transformation. Through high-level protection of the ecological environment, we must effectively promote high-quality economic and social development, meet the people's needs for a better life, and comprehensively advance the modernization of harmony between humanity and nature through the construction of a Beautiful China.

面向未来，我们需要学好用好《文选》这部权威教材，深入学习贯彻习近平生态文明思想，在深化理论学习、强化实践转化两个维度持续发力，通过生态环境的高水平保护，切实助推经济社会高质量发展、满足人民群众美好生活需要，以美丽中国建设全面推进人与自然和谐共生的现代化。

Adhering to the Party's leadership over ecological civilization construction is the fundamental principle for advancing the construction of a Beautiful China and must be unswervingly implemented. Thought is the prerequisite and guide for action; guidance at the ideological level is crucial. It is necessary to deepen the study and education of Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization, thereby guiding the broad masses of cadres and the public to deeply study and comprehend its profound connotations, thus effectively enhancing the political, ideological, and action-oriented initiative and consciousness in advancing the construction of a Beautiful China. It is essential to fully leverage the Party's core leadership role in commanding the overall situation and coordinating all parties, effectively mobilize the enthusiasm of all sectors of society to participate in ecological environmental protection, and promote the formation of a good situation of concerted collaboration, joint construction, and shared benefits. In terms of organizational construction, the Party's grassroots organizations, as important combat forces in ecological civilization construction, should further strengthen their own construction, highlight their key role in ecological governance, and at the same time optimize the selection and deployment of the cadre team, striving to cultivate an ecological environmental protection team with firm political stances, superb professional capabilities, solid work styles, and a sense of responsibility.

坚持党对生态文明建设的领导是推进美丽中国建设的根本遵循，必须坚定不移地予以贯彻落实。思想是行动的前提与指引，思想层面的引领至关重要，必须深化对习近平生态文明思想的学习与教育工作，以此引导广大干部群众深入研习并领会其深刻内涵，从而切实提升推进美丽中国建设的政治、思想与行动的主动性、自觉性。要充分发挥党总揽全局、协调各方的领导核心作用，有效调动社会各界参与生态环境保护的积极性，推动形成同心协作、共建共享的良好局面。在组织建设方面，党的基层组织作为生态文明建设中的重要战斗力量，应当进一步加强自身建设，凸显其在生态治理过程中的关键作用，同时优化干部队伍的选拔与配备，着力培养一支具备坚定政治立场、高超专业能力、扎实工作作风且勇于担当责任的生态环境保护队伍。

Adhering to the systems concept and using it as a guide to integrally advance ecological civilization construction means regarding this construction process as an organic and unified systematic project. In practice, it is necessary to apply systematic thinking and strengthen the integration of various aspects. Handling the relationship between the overall situation and the parts is a key link. This requires that when formulating national strategic plans for ecological environmental protection, a macro-level framework for China's ecological environmental protection and restoration be established, while simultaneously adopting measures tailored to local conditions based on the actual situations of different regions, thereby enhancing the precision and actual effectiveness of ecological environmental protection actions. In handling the relationship between the present and the long term, it is necessary to both focus on the present, engaging in the battle against pollution with a high sense of urgency, increasing efforts on key tasks such as steadily improving air quality, inspecting and rectifying sewage discharge outlets into rivers and seas, and preventing soil pollution at the source, so that the people can truly feel the positive changes in the ecological environment; and look to the future, increasing capital investment and scientific and technological research efforts, actively developing renewable energy, and fundamentally solving environmental problems caused by energy consumption. As for the relationship between the general and the specific, it is necessary to both extract universal laws from ecological environmental protection work and compile widely applicable principles and methods, and implement targeted governance measures for emerging fields and key links.

坚持系统观念并以此为指导一体推进生态文明建设，意味着要将这一建设过程视为有机统一的系统工程，在实践中必须运用系统思维，强化各方面的系统集成。处理全局与局部的关系是其中关键一环，这要求在制定全国性生态环境保护战略规划时，从宏观视角搭建我国生态环境保护与修复的整体框架，同时结合不同地区的实际状况，采取契合当地条件的措施开展工作，以此增强生态环境保护行动的精准度与实际成效。在当前与长远的关系处理上，既要立足当下，以高度的紧迫意识投身污染防治攻坚战，加大对空气质量稳步提升、入河入海排污口检查整治、土壤污染源头防范等重点任务的推进力度，让民众真切感受到生态环境的向好变化；又要着眼未来，增加资金投入与科技攻关力度，积极发展可再生能源，从根源上破解能源消耗引发的环境难题。而对于一般与特殊的关系，既要提炼生态环境保护工作中具有普遍性的规律，整理出可广泛应用的原则与方法，也要针对新兴领域和关键环节，实施具有针对性的治理手段。

Relying on the strictest systems and the most rigorous rule of law to protect the ecological environment, the core lies in taking systems and the rule of law as fundamental guarantees, making systems an insurmountable rigid constraint and the rule of law an untouchable high-voltage red line. Perfecting legislation is a foundational step, requiring the strengthening of top-level design, constructing a systematic, comprehensive, scientifically standardized, and effectively operational legal system, paying attention to the coordination and synergy between different laws and regulations, and simultaneously enhancing the targeting and operability of systems for emerging areas and prominent issues in the field of ecological environmental protection. Strict law enforcement is a key measure; it is necessary to increase the intensity of law enforcement in the ecological and environmental field, enhance the professional level of law enforcement teams through regular professional training, case studies, and practical exercises, and ensure that all regulations and systems are truly implemented and exert their due effect. Impartial justice is an important guarantee; it is necessary to fully leverage the functional role of judicial organs, increase the punishment for illegal and criminal acts such as polluting the environment and destroying ecology, and provide solid judicial support for ecological environmental protection. Law-abiding by the whole people is the social foundation; it is necessary to popularize legal knowledge related to ecological environmental protection through various forms of publicity activities and the exposure of typical illegal cases, guiding the whole society to form a good atmosphere of respecting and abiding by the law.

以最严格的制度与最严密的法治为依托保护生态环境，其核心在于将制度与法治作为根本保障，让制度成为不可逾越的刚性约束，让法治成为不可触碰的高压红线。完善立法是基础环节，需要强化顶层设计，构建起系统全面、科学规范且运行有效的法律体系，注重不同法律法规之间的衔接配合与协同发力，同时针对生态环境保护领域的新兴范畴和突出问题，增强制度的靶向性与可操作性。严格执法是关键举措，要加大生态环境领域的执法力度，通过定期组织业务培训、案例研讨以及实操演练等方式，提升执法队伍的专业化水平，确保各项法规制度真正落到实处、发挥应有功效。公正司法是重要保障，需充分发挥司法机关的职能作用，加大对污染环境、破坏生态等违法犯罪行为的惩处力度，为生态环境保护提供坚实的司法支撑。全民守法是社会基础，要通过开展形式多样的宣传活动，曝光典型违法案例，普及生态环境保护相关法律知识，引导全社会形成遵法守法的良好氛围。

(Author: Tang Tao, Researcher at the Institute of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, Peking University)

（作者：唐韬，系北京大学习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想研究院研究员）

Online Editor: Tongxin

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