China vows ecological civilization to ensure environmentally friendly growth

The Chinese government is promoting ecological civilization to catalyze an economic development that is not detrimental to nature and social norms, a senior Chinese official attending the global South-South expo in the Kenyan capital Nairobi said on Monday.

"Ecological civilization and green transformation have become a consensus in China. The government has advocated for an economic growth that is green, inclusive and equitable," Wu Xiaoqing, Chinese vice minister of environmental protection, told the forum.

Wu noted that the 18th Communist Party Congress passed landmark decisions to achieve a green transformation that is beneficial to China and the world.

"The push for an economic growth that is green and inclusive is at the heart of China's future aspirations. China can be a catalyst for the attainment of a carbon free and prosperous planet, " Wu pledged.

He urged developing countries to forge ties and share expertise that would catalyze low carbon transition.

UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner noted that China has reframed its economic development models to include resource efficiency in production and production patterns.

"China's fundamental rethink of its development path is timely as the country plays a critical role in shaping a future global agenda. China has a civilization track record and its decisions will have profound impact in the world," Steiner said.

The executive director sees China playing a leading role in promoting green transformation and shared prosperity in the South.

"The Chinese leadership has made in 2012 ecological civilization the new dimension of sustainable development, together with political, social, economic and cultural dimensions, " Steiner said.

"This has far-reaching effects on green transformation, not only in China but also in the rest of the world, given China's sheer size of being the second largest world economy, and its global reach in trade and investment," he added.

Emerging countries like Brazil, China, India and South Africa are being proposed to mobilize the South to chart a post-2015 development agenda that is inclusive and ecologically sensitive.

Steiner challenged China and other emerging economies to increase their share of trade, investments and technology transfer in developing countries to achieve sustainable development.