Chinese concept of 'two mountains' points to a sustainable path for humanity.
An idea launched by Xi Jinping 20 years ago is transforming China's development and inspiring global solutions to the ecological crisis.
247 - The "two mountains" concept, formulated by Chinese President Xi Jinping exactly two decades ago, has become a global benchmark in sustainable development and the construction of an ecological civilization. Editorial published this Friday (15) by the newspaper Global TimesThe Chinese press highlighted that the vision — summarized in the phrase "clear waters and green mountains are invaluable assets" — has profoundly changed the country's trajectory and offers practical answers to global environmental and economic challenges.
According to Global TimesThe proposal emerged on August 15, 2005, during a visit by Xi to the village of Yucun in Zhejiang province. On that occasion, he argued that the environment and development are not opposites, but parts of the same goal: "We want clear waters and green mountains as much as we want mountains of gold and silver," he stated. The idea broke with the growth model that sacrificed nature and scientifically defined that environmental preservation is also a highly valuable economic resource.
From theory to practice: transformation in China
The editorial highlights that, since then, China has built a green growth model, with visible improvements: cleaner skies, unpolluted rivers, revitalized villages, and an increasingly low-carbon economy based on recycling and ecological innovation. Sectors such as sustainable agriculture, ecotourism, green finance, and the digital economy have grown in an integrated way.
The implementation of the concept also spurred strict environmental protection policies, such as the creation of "red lines" for ecological preservation and incentives for transforming degraded areas into productive and sustainable landscapes.
International impact and replicable solutions
The Chinese experience, according to Global TimesThis offers lessons for developing countries with large populations and limited resources. Examples include the export of technologies such as photovoltaic generation, biodigesters, and adapted agroecological systems to Africa, as well as hydroelectric projects in the Amazon that include forest compensation and wildlife protection.
The text emphasizes that, in the face of the global climate crisis, the solution lies in international cooperation and governance, rejecting models that export pollution and encourage excessive consumption. The concept of the "two mountains" proposes harmony between humanity and nature, between nations, and between the present and the future—an alternative to the Western industrial model, considered unsustainable.
Global recognition and a shared future.
Increasingly, foreign experts recognize that this vision, based on humanism, reflects an essential logic: ecological resources are economic capital. This approach transcends short-sightedness and offers a compelling model for a world seeking solutions to the climate crisis.
After 20 years of application, the concept proves that it is possible to advance environmental protection and economic growth simultaneously. For the Global TimesThe Chinese experience symbolizes "a Chinese response" to the global ecological crisis, capable of inspiring other countries in building a sustainable future.
