The Logic of the Modernization of Harmony Between Humanity and Nature

Chinese modernization is the modernization of harmony between humanity and nature. This requires us to uphold and act on the principle that lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets and to maintain harmony between humanity and nature when planning development.

From a theoretical perspective, the theory of harmony between humanity and nature in Chinese modernization is the crystallization of the wisdom of Marxism adapted to the Chinese context and the needs of our times.

Marxism states that “man lives on nature” and humanity lives, produces, and develops by continuously interacting with nature. The CPC inherited and developed Marxist thought on the relationship between humanity and nature, which it has combined with the specific realities of ecological conservation in China to propose the modernization of harmony between humanity and nature. This innovation explains the interdependence between humans and the natural world, as well as their mutually reinforcing dialectical unity.

The ecological wisdom embodied in China's traditional culture constitutes the national soil and cultural roots of the theory of harmony between humanity and nature in Chinese modernization. Always respecting and loving nature, the Chinese people have cultivated rich ecological elements in the culture during more than 5,000 years of Chinese civilization.

The CPC has developed philosophical concepts from traditional Chinese culture, such as the unity of humanity and nature and “The Dao follows what is natural,” and integrated the essence of Marxist thought with the best of China's traditional culture and with the common values that our people intuitively apply in their everyday lives.

From a historical perspective, the theory of harmony between humanity and nature in Chinese modernization is the distillation of the CPC's experiences of modernization.

After the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, Mao Zedong pointed out that the CPC's task is to focus on building modernized industry, agriculture, science and culture, and national defense. He also called for conservation of mountains and rivers as well as afforestation.

In the new period of reform and opening up and socialist modernization, the CPC noted the multifaceted nature of modernization and the need for an overall balance between various initiatives, with the emphasis on finding a path that strikes a balance between nature and human development and developing a resource-conserving, environmentally friendly society.   

In the new era that began in 2012, the CPC Central Committee has adopted the overall approach of achieving the sustainable development of the Chinese nation. It has strived to promote theoretical, practical, and institutional innovations related to ecological conservation, and introduced a series of creative new ideas, new thinking, and new strategies. All of this has opened up a new realm of development in the topic.

From a practical perspective, the theory of harmony between humanity and nature in Chinese modernization is a vivid illustration of the great practice and achievements of ecological conservation in the new era.

Since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, the legal system for ecological conservation has been improved. China is in the stage of high-quality development, and we have one of the highest economic growth rates among the major economies. This is ample proof of the feasibility and stability of the modernization path of harmony between humanity and nature, which is the correct path to build China's strength and achieve national rejuvenation.