Guizhou's Green Success Wows Envoys

On June 5, World Environment Day, diplomats and officials from 20 countries and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) went to an offbeat destination to witness China’s progress in creating an ecological civilization where economic progress is in harmony with environmental protection. Their destination was Huawu, a village known as the “cliffside village” as it is tucked away among the mountains in Bijie of Guizhou Province in the southwest. Home to the ethnic Miao community, it was once isolated from the outside world due to lack of roads. The inaccessibility made it one of the poorest villages in the region where the residents eked out a precarious living by planting corn and fishing. Severe soil erosion hampered agriculture while environmental degradation posed a health hazard.

However, there have been dramatic improvements since China began to focus on green development and creating an ecological civilization. Today, the villagers practice organic farming and understory cultivation – growing small trees and herbs under the shade of taller trees. Farmland is being turned back into forests. Specialty fruits like loquats and cherries are grown to be sold and ecotourism has become another source of income.

A 10-year fishing ban in all key waterbodies in the Yangtze River, implemented in 2021 has also accelerated ecological restoration and boosted sustainable development. The Wujiang River, the mother river of Guizhou and the largest tributary of the Yangtze in the south, was once called the “polluted river” due to sewage and other deposits, especially wastes containing phosphorous. Today, the river has been cleaned up and become a boating destination.

When the delegation reached the village, the area was welcoming early June rainfall. From the observation platform on Wujiang, they saw greenery all around. The once bare mountains were covered by green vegetation while the river was clean. It was a reflection of President Xi Jinping’s saying that lush mountains and lucid waters are invaluable assets.

“We should tell the international community the story of China’s ecological governance and its success,” said Spanish Minister Counselor and Consul General in China Juan Jose Buitrago. He also indicated that China’s vast experience in tackling climate change and pursuing green development is a source of “smarter solutions” to achieve the UN sustainable development goals.

The Miao residents, dressed in their traditional colorful clothes, welcomed the visitors at the village square, singing their traditional songs and dancing. In the nearby International Ecological Friendship Forest, the diplomats planted osmanthus saplings.

The villagers pose for a photo with members of the visiting delegation of diplomats in Huawu, a village in Guizhou Province in southwest China.

The visitors signed a joint statement on ecological civilization, which urged all countries to reinvigorate the global partnership for sustainable development. It also advocated pursuing harmonious coexistence between humans and nature, and enhancing global ecological and environmental resilience. “It is not just a declaration, but also our commitment to global environmental protection,” Fiji’s Ambassador to China, Manasa R. Tagicakibau told China Today.

Diplomats plant osmanthus saplings at the International Ecological Friendship Forest in Bijie on June 5.

“Climate change is a global challenge that forces us to work together to discuss global strategies for environmental governance,” said John Busuttil, the Maltese Ambassador. He also said that Guizhou with its unique natural and climate conditions, is harnessing technological innovation and new energy to create growth points for ecological protection and economic growth.

SCO Deputy Secretary General Nuran Niyazaliev called the Chinese path to modernization a demonstration “that development and environmental protection can go hand in hand.” SCO countries look forward to deepening cooperation with China for ecological and environmental protection and addressing global environmental challenges, he added.