CGTN: How China’s ‘two mountains’ concept is shaping global green development

August 18, 2025 at 11:00 AM EDT

CGTN published an article exploring the significance of China’s “two mountains” concept, a green growth philosophy that is central to the country’s ecological efforts and serves as an inspiration for global sustainable development.

Erik Solheim recalled that over a decade ago, he was too worried about smog in Beijing to even run outdoors. Today, the former executive director of the United Nations Environment Programme makes time for morning runs whenever he returns to the city.

During a jog this year, Solheim noted that most vehicles on the road were “quiet, pollution-free, cost-effective” new energy vehicles, a visible transformation that reflects a deep shift in China’s green growth philosophy – one rooted in a concept articulated by President Xi Jinping: “Lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets.”

The “two mountains” concept, which literally means green mountains and clear waters are as valuable as mountains of gold and silver, has become a guiding principle for China’s ecological efforts and a source of inspiration for sustainable development worldwide.

As President Xi has said, “Harmony between man and nature is a defining feature of Chinese modernization. China is a steadfast actor and major contributor in promoting global green development.”

A philosophy that guides real change

First put forward in 2005 during Xi’s visit to Yucun Village in east China’s Zhejiang Province, the “two mountains” concept has transformed from a local slogan into a cornerstone of China’s national strategy.

Today, China leads the world in renewable energy deployment. It had installed nearly 1.889 billion kilowatts of total renewable capacity by the end of 2024, including approximately 887 million kilowatts of solar, 521 million kilowatts of wind and 436 million kilowatts of hydropower, which accounted for 56 percent of the nation’s total power capacity and supplied about 35 percent of its electricity generation.

The “two mountains” concept has sparked interest well beyond China. A global opinion poll released by CGTN, covering 24,515 respondents from 48 countries, showed that 81.6 percent of global respondents believe the concept has broken the traditional “polluting first and cleaning up later” model of growth.

Clifford Cobb, a leading ecological economist in the United States, has closely followed China’s environmental path. He believes the idea presents a new model of development.

“Over the past 20 years, China has proven that it’s possible to protect nature while generating economic value,” Cobb said. “It’s a win-win vision the world can learn from.”

Promoting international cooperation for a greener future

China’s green development vision is helping power global cooperation. A vivid example can be found on the vast steppes of northern Kazakhstan’s Akmola Region, where renewable energy is transforming the local economy.

Engineer Khasabay Kinlosan is part of that change. Every day, he maintains more than 40 wind turbines that are part of a major Belt and Road cooperation project between China and Kazakhstan. These turbines produce over 800 million kilowatt-hours of clean electricity annually, cutting carbon emissions by 650,000 tonnes.

As the Belt and Road Initiative moves into a new stage of high-quality development, the “two mountains” philosophy is finding growing resonance abroad.

Almas Chukin, a prominent Kazakh economist, says the concept struck a chord with him. “China has become a leader in solar and wind power, and it is addressing global challenges such as climate change through action, not just words,” he said.

China’s commitment to a shared green future goes far beyond Central Asia. It has supported low-carbon development and ecological capacity building in more than 100 developing countries, particularly small island nations and African states.

Through multilateral platforms like the South-South Climate Cooperation Initiative and the Belt and Road’s Green Development Partnership, China is exporting not only technologies but also growth models and sustainability know-how.

Its contributions to global biodiversity are equally notable. In 2022, China hosted COP15 of the Convention on Biological Diversity, helping broker the landmark Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. UN officials noted that the agreement’s success owes much to China’s long-standing emphasis on a “whole-of-society” approach to environmental governance.

“President Xi’s ecological civilization thought holds great theoretical value and has also proven highly effective in practice,” said Eliason Kaganga, a Tanzanian scholar focused on protecting Lake Victoria. “China’s solutions – especially those that empower local people – are bringing lasting benefits to African countries and communities.”

https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-08-16/How-China-s-two-mountains-concept-shapes-global-green-development-1FSGt4l2H9C/p.html

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CGTN: How China’s ‘two mountains’ concept is shaping global green development

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