China has restored over 8 million hectares of ecosystems, achieving the ecological protection and restoration targets set for the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), according to the Ministry of Natural Resources on Tuesday.
The country has so far implemented 52 projects on the holistic conservation and restoration of mountains, water, forests, farmland, grassland and deserts, with notable progress in ecological protection and restoration, the ministry said.
In addition, 49 demonstration projects for the restoration of legacy mining sites and 195 marine ecological restoration initiatives have been carried out, it said.
"To date, we have restored approximately 1,780 kilometers of coastline and 53,000 hectares of coastal wetland. Significant strides have been made in the protection and restoration of mangroves, with China being one of the few countries globally to see a net increase in mangrove areas," said Li Jianzhong, deputy director of the Department of Territorial and Spatial Ecology Rehabilitation at the Ministry of Natural Resources.
The ministry also said that by the end of 2024, the central government had allocated 100.65 billion yuan (about 13.8 billion U.S. dollars) for these holistic conservation and restoration projects.
Looking ahead, by 2035, China aims to keep at least 3.15 million square kilometers of land within its ecological conservation "red lines". The country also plans to keep at least 35 percent of its natural coastlines in a natural state, ensure that protected land areas cover no less than 18 percent of its land areas, and fully establish a nationwide park system. These initiatives are expected to strengthen the resilience and stability of China's ecosystems, fostering a self-sustaining and healthy cycle.
The red lines cover areas that are critical in environmental function, ecologically sensitive and vulnerable, and vital for biodiversity.
China achieves ecological protection, restoration goals for 2021-2025
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Seychelles' President Patrick Herminie on Tuesday exchanged congratulations on the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between their two countries.
In his congratulatory message, Xi said that since the establishment of diplomatic ties 50 years ago, no matter how the international landscape evolves, China and Seychelles have always trusted each other and firmly adhered to mutual support, with friendship between the two countries rock-solid.
Xi said he believes that as long as both sides stay true to the original aspiration of establishing diplomatic relations and proceed side by side, the path for the development of China-Seychelles relations will become broader and broader, and the prospects for bilateral cooperation will be brighter.
Noting that he attaches great importance to the development of relations between the two countries, Xi said he is willing to work with Herminie to take the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations as a new starting point, carry forward the traditional friendship, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation within the framework of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), promote common development, continuously lead the China-Seychelles strategic partnership toward new heights, and bring more benefits to the people of both countries.
Herminie said in his message that since the establishment of diplomatic ties 50 years ago, the relations between Seychelles and China have steadily developed on the basis of mutual respect, mutual trust and common development.
China has always been a valuable partner of Seychelles and has provided much support for Seychelles in improving people's well-being and achieving national development goals, he said.
Noting that Seychelles firmly adheres to the one-China principle, Herminie said Seychelles is willing to continue strengthening cooperation within the framework of Belt and Road cooperation and the FOCAC, and continuously deepen bilateral relations.
Xi exchanges congratulations with Seychelles' president on 50th anniversary of ties
