ANTALYA, Türkiye, Nov. 12 (Xinhua) -- During the ongoing 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31), officials and representatives from governments and international organizations have praised China's commitment to green transition, saying it has injected impetus into global green development.
They made the comments following the release of the English version of a report at COP31 China Pavilion on Tuesday. The report, titled "Lucid Waters and Lush Mountains Are Invaluable Assets -- China's Path to Green Development," aims to provide the international community with a comprehensive understanding of China's vision for green development, its practical implementation and its global significance.
It was jointly compiled by a research team from the Research Center for Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization, the Xinhua Institute, and the Development Research Center of China's National Forestry and Grassland Administration.
The concept of China's Ecological Civilization fundamentally demonstrates that "economic development and environmental protection do not need to compete, but should instead work together," Stewart Maginnis, deputy director general of the International Union for Conservation of Nature, said in an interview with Xinhua in the Turkish coastal city of Antalya, the host city of COP31.
He commended China's real commitment to protecting, conserving and restoring ecosystems, emphasizing that natural resources are viewed under China's green vision not just for their environmental value, but also as part of the country's development framework.
UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell described China's energy transition as "nowhere else on Earth," saying it has spurred innovation and lowered costs around the globe.
International Energy Agency Executive Director Fatih Birol said at the conference that China has made major achievements in electric vehicles, renewable energy and battery storage, adding that "China has shown the world the way."
Attending the launch event of the report, Tennant Reed, director of climate change and energy at Australian Industry Group, welcomed the launch of the document, saying it could better explain China's green development experience.
Having visited China multiple times for travel and academic seminars, Reed told Xinhua that he was deeply impressed by the country's green transition achievements.
"There have been really remarkable improvements in some key issues, including urban air quality," Reed said. It is very encouraging that the country is setting national policy instruments and supporting the growth of green power sources for industry and households, he added.
Noting that this progress is not only vital for China itself but also for the global response to climate change, Reed said China has become a primary source of clean energy, low-emission and zero-emission technologies, and the country's experience and expertise offer valuable tools and reference for other nations to meet their emission targets.
Australian Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen, who serves as COP31 president of negotiations, said China's clean energy investments are driving down battery and solar costs worldwide.
"That benefits China's own economic development, and it benefits the rest of the world as well," he said.
The COP31, which will run until Nov. 20, brings together international delegates, climate experts and stakeholders to accelerate global climate action, enhance green cooperation and advance the implementation of the Paris Agreement.
