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
Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem on Monday rejected direct talks with Israel and vowed continued resistance, just a day before Lebanon and Israel are due to hold their first direct negotiations in decades in Washington with U.S. officials participating.
His declaration came as Israel continued strikes across Lebanon on Monday. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement on Monday evening that the Israeli air force struck about 150 Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon in the past 24 hours and said it would continue striking Hezbollah targets.
Meanwhile, its 98th Division was expanding ground operations against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, the IDF said.
Earlier in the day, the Israeli military said five rockets were fired from Lebanon into northern Israel, triggering air defense systems. State-funded radio network Israeli Army Radio reported that debris from an interception injured one person.
Ahead of talks schedule on Tuesday in Washington between Israel and Lebanon, Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem made a televised speech on al-Manar TV, saying that Hezbollah would not be disarmed and called on the Lebanese government to withdraw from the Washington talks.
Qassem said that Israel has been trying to weaken Lebanon to achieve its "Greater Israel" ambitions, and that U.S. efforts to bolster the Lebanese army to disarm Hezbollah and push the Lebanese army to fight its people were destined to fail.
He stated that the "U.S.-backed Israeli aggression" was against Lebanon as a whole, not just Hezbollah, and he urged the Lebanese government to its military and security forces to respond instead of exerting political pressure on the "resistance forces".
He asserted that national unity would be undermined by any forces within Lebanon that submit to the will of the United States.
Qassem also said that Hezbollah had shown patience over the past 15 months while Israel violated the ceasefire agreement, but that diplomatic efforts had proven futile.
He accused Israel of failing to uphold a November 2024 ceasefire agreement, alleging more than 10,000 violations. Hezbollah responded with a counter attack on March 2, aiming to force Israel to abide by the ceasefire and thwarting its "major aggressive plans," Qassem said.
He laid out five conditions to end the conflict: a complete halt to attacks by land, sea and air; immediate withdrawal from occupied Lebanese territory; the release of prisoners; the return of displaced people; and reconstruction with international support.
The Israeli strikes on Lebanon have killed 2,089 people and wounded 6,762 since March 2, the Lebanese health ministry said on Monday.
Hezbollah leader rejects Israel talks, vows continued resistance ahead of Washington negotiations as strikes continue
