President Xi Jinping, "Welcomes US Return to Climate Change Efforts"

Poet Ju-seok's Speech on the First Day of the Climate Summit... Achieving Carbon Neutrality by 2060
"We Must Abandon Development Models That Destroy Ecosystems; Protecting the Ecological Environment Is Protecting Productivity"

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Jo Young-shin] Chinese President Xi Jinping announced that he will strive to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. President Xi made this statement during his speech on the first day of the 'Climate Leaders Summit' on the 22nd (local time).

President Xi said in his speech, "Carbon neutrality is a decision made by China to share the future of humanity and pursue sustainable development," adding, "China will make efforts to uphold carbon neutrality."

He continued, "As a participant, contributor, and leader in building a global ecological civilization, we will firmly practice multilateralism and strive to establish a fair, reasonable, cooperative, and mutually beneficial global environmental governance system," he pledged.

President Xi also emphasized the necessity of multilateralism. He stated, "We must uphold harmonious coexistence between humans and nature, maintain green growth, and adhere to a human-centered, multilateral, common but differentiated responsibility principle." He pointed out the need to maintain a UN-centered international system guided by international law and fairness.

President Xi also mentioned the Belt and Road Initiative (land and maritime Silk Road). He said that the Belt and Road construction promoted by China mainly focuses on cooperation in the ecological civilization field. Countries participating in the Belt and Road should continuously implement green infrastructure, green energy, green transportation, and green finance.

President Xi said, "Nature gave birth to and nurtured humanity," adding, "Humanity must respect nature, conform to nature, and protect nature." He pointed out that green mountains and green waters are gold and silver, and protecting the ecological environment is protecting productivity and also developing productivity. He reiterated the need to abandon development models that damage or destroy ecosystems and protect the ecological environment to ensure sustainable development of the global economic society.

He explained that the ecological environment is related to the well-being of all nations' people. Therefore, the aspirations for a better life, expectations for a good environment, and responsibilities to future generations must be fully considered.

President Xi welcomed the United States' return to the Climate Change Agreement and added that China looks forward to cooperating with the international community, including the United States, to protect the Earth's environment.