Xinhua Finance:

We have noticed that China has established the world's largest and fastest-growing renewable energy system. I'd like to ask:What other achievements deserve recognition for driving our economy's and society's comprehensive green transformation? Thank you.

Zheng Shanjie:

Mr. Zhou will take the question.

Zhou Haibing:

Thank you for your question. During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, regions and departments across China have firmly established and acted on the important philosophy that lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets. Significant progress has been made in the comprehensive green transformation of the country's economic and social development, as evidenced by four areas of continued improvement.

First, resource utilization efficiency has continued to improve. We have pursued both resource development and conservation and implemented a comprehensive conservation strategy. We have vigorously promoted the circular economy, achieving positive outcomes in delivering economic, social and environmental benefits. In terms of energy conservation, by 2024, China's energy consumption per unit of GDP decreased by 11.6% compared to the end of the 13th Five-Year Plan period, making China one of the countries with the fastest decline in energy intensity globally. In terms of resource utilization, in 2024, the major resource productivity increased by approximately 12% compared to the end of the 13th Five-Year Plan period. Nationwide, 268 million tons of domestic garbage were processed through incineration, representing an 83.6% increase from the end of the 13th Five-Year Plan period.

Second, the quality of the ecological environment has continued to improve. We have remained committed to long-term efforts, advanced the critical battle against pollution, and strengthened ecological conservation and restoration. The main channels of the Yangtze River and the Yellow River, which are widely known as China's mother rivers, have fully met Class II water quality standards. With the continued advancement of national greening initiatives, China has become the country with the fastest and most extensive growth in vegetation worldwide.

Third, the level of greening in key sectors has continued to rise. We have worked to both optimize existing capacity and expand new capacity, accelerating the development of green and low-carbon industries. In terms of existing capacity, the share of benchmark-level energy-efficient production capacity in major energy-intensive industries has increased 6 percentage points compared to the end of the 13th Five-Year Plan period. In terms of new capacity, China has built the world's largest and fastest-growing renewable energy system. By the end of May this year, the country's installed renewable energy capacity had reached 2.09 billion kilowatts — more than double the 934 million kilowatts at the end of the 13th Five-Year Plan period.

Fourth, the transition toward green lifestyles has continued. We have promoted green living as a new social trend. By 2024, the number of new energy vehicles in China had reached 31.4 million, more than six times the 4.92 million at the end of the 13th Five-Year Plan period. Driven by policies promoting large-scale equipment upgrades and consumer goods trade-ins, appliances with top-tier energy efficiency now account for 90% of total home appliance sales, effectively integrating investment expansion, consumption promotion and energy conservation with carbon reduction.

The 15th Five-Year Plan period will be a critical stage for China to reach its carbon emissions peak before 2030. We will take stronger and more concrete actions to advance the comprehensive green transformation of economic and social development and accelerate a form of modernization based on harmony between humanity and nature. Thank you.