Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, September 30th, by wire
Speech at the United Nations Biodiversity Summit
(September 30, 2020, Beijing)
Xi Jinping, President of the People's Republic of China
Mr.president,
Dear colleagues:
On the 75th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, at the special moment when countries are committed to fighting the new crown pneumonia epidemic and promoting high-quality economic recovery, the United Nations held the Biodiversity Summit to discuss major issues of protecting biodiversity and promoting sustainable development. Has realistic and far-reaching significance.
China will host the 15th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity in Kunming next year to discuss new strategies for global biodiversity governance with all parties.
At present, the global species extinction rate is accelerating, and the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem degradation pose a major risk to human survival and development.
The new crown pneumonia epidemic tells us that man and nature are a community of destiny.
We must work together and act quickly to protect in development and develop in protection to build a beautiful home in harmony with all things.
I recommend:
First, uphold ecological civilization and increase the motivation for building a beautiful world.
Biodiversity is related to human well-being and is an important foundation for human survival and development.
Industrial civilization has created huge material wealth, but it has also brought about an ecological crisis of loss of biodiversity and environmental destruction.
Ecological prosperity leads to civilized prosperity.
We must stand at the height of being responsible for human civilization, respect nature, conform to nature, protect nature, explore the way of harmonious coexistence between man and nature, promote the coordination and unity of economic development and ecological protection, and build a prosperous, clean and beautiful world.
Second, adhere to multilateralism and consolidate global environmental governance.
Since the establishment of the United Nations, the international community has actively promoted global environmental governance.
International treaties such as the Convention on Biological Diversity, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement are the legal basis for related environmental governance and are also important results of multilateral cooperation. They have received extensive support and participation from all parties.
Facing the challenges of global environmental risks, all countries are a community of shared destiny that is in the same boat. Unilateralism is unpopular, and cooperation is the right way.
We must firmly defend the international system with the United Nations at its core, safeguard the dignity and authority of international rules, and improve the level of global environmental governance.
Third, maintain green development and cultivate high-quality economic recovery after the epidemic.
The new crown pneumonia epidemic has caused a comprehensive impact on global economic and social development. We must take a long-term view, maintain our strength, and adhere to green, inclusive and sustainable development.
The "2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development" issued by the United Nations has pointed out the direction for the development of all countries. Biodiversity is not only the basis for sustainable development, but also the goal and means.
We must use nature to support the life of all things, seek development opportunities from protecting nature, and achieve a win-win situation for ecological environmental protection and high-quality economic development.
Fourth, strengthen the sense of responsibility and enhance the ability to respond to environmental challenges.
Developed countries and developing countries are at different stages of development, and their historical responsibilities and practical capabilities on environmental issues are different.
We must adhere to the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, adhere to fair and just benefit sharing, and take care of the financial, technological, and capacity-building concerns of developing countries.
We must fulfill our commitments, implement goals, effectively reverse the loss of biodiversity, and jointly protect the earth's home.
Mr.president!
"Ecological Civilization: Building a Community of Life on Earth" is not only the theme of next year's Kunming Conference, but also a beautiful message from mankind to the future.
As the chairman of the Kunming Conference, China is willing to share the experience of biodiversity governance and ecological civilization construction with all parties.
——China uses the concept of ecological civilization to guide development.
From the traditional Chinese wisdom of Taoism and nature, and the unity of nature and man, to the new development concept of innovation, coordination, greenness, openness, and sharing, China puts the construction of ecological civilization in a prominent position and integrates it into all aspects and the whole process of China's economic and social development. Strive to build a modernization in which man and nature live in harmony.
-China has adopted strong policy actions.
China adheres to the life community of mountains, rivers, forests, fields, lakes and grasses, and coordinated efforts to promote biodiversity governance.
Accelerate the national biodiversity protection legislation, delineate ecological protection red lines, establish a national park system, implement major biodiversity protection projects, and increase social participation and public awareness.
In the past 10 years, the area of forest resources has increased by more than 70 million hectares, ranking first in the world.
Long-term and large-scale control of desertification and desertification, effective protection and restoration of wetlands, and the collection and preservation of biological genetic resources rank among the top in the world.
90% of terrestrial ecosystem types and 85% of key wild animal populations are effectively protected.
——China actively participates in global environmental governance.
China has effectively fulfilled its obligations under climate change, biodiversity and other environmental treaties, and has completed the 2020 goal of tackling climate change and establishing nature reserves ahead of schedule.
As the world's largest developing country, we are also willing to assume international responsibilities commensurate with China's development level and contribute to global environmental governance.
China will uphold the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind, continue to make arduous efforts to increase national independent contributions, adopt more powerful policies and measures, strive to reach the peak of carbon dioxide emissions by 2030, and strive to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060, in order to achieve response Make greater efforts and contributions to the goals set by the Paris Agreement on climate change.
Mr.president!
"Mountains accumulate and grow taller." Strengthening the protection of biodiversity and advancing global environmental governance require sustained efforts from all parties.
I welcome everyone to gather in Kunming, the beautiful spring city next year, to discuss global biodiversity conservation plans, and look forward to all parties reaching a comprehensive, balanced, robust and executable framework for action.
Let us start from this summit and work together to build a beautiful world of harmony for all things!