Building a Clean, Beautiful, and Sustainable World Together

On April 23, Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered a speech at the Climate and Just Transition Leaders Video Summit, which elicited a warm response from the international community. Leaders from various countries noted that President Xi’s address emphasized the importance of upholding multilateralism, deepening international cooperation, promoting a just transition, and enhancing practical actions, thereby providing a clear direction for global climate governance. He articulated China’s green development philosophy and announced China’s climate action plan, demonstrating China’s commitment and determination to work together with all parties to build a clean, beautiful, and sustainable world.

President Xi pointed out, "Despite the challenges faced in global climate governance, green and low-carbon development has become a trend of our times." He expressed confidence that with strong faith and unity, the world could overcome obstacles and ensure steady progress in global climate governance and other advancements.

Putra Adiguna, Executive Director of the Institute for Energy Transition in Indonesia, remarked, "The voice from Beijing outlines a clear vision for the world's development direction. China's efforts to respect the differing needs of countries and share the benefits of green development have been warmly welcomed by many nations."

Wang Xiaojun, Secretary-General of the Asian Climate Action Network, stated, "President Xi's speech reflects the leadership that the world urgently needs today. Denying climate change or pretending it does not exist is not an option. It is more crucial than ever for countries to work together to address climate change. True leadership stems from a commitment to building a community with a shared future for humanity and the unwavering will of its leaders."

Jainana Kamala da Silva, Editor-in-Chief of Brazil’s "Radar China" news platform, emphasized the practical significance of the four points raised by President Xi in his speech. With the upcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference set to take place in Belém, Brazil, the alignment between Xi's remarks and Brazil's perspectives provides strong support for the event. Both Brazil and China place great importance on addressing the climate crisis, reflecting a broad consensus among countries in the Global South as they work towards common sustainable development goals.

Mahmud Murida, former Secretary-General of the Bangladesh-China Business Industrial Association, praised President Xi's timely initiatives, noting that climate change is a global challenge that no country can tackle alone. He highlighted the importance of promoting a just transition, particularly for developing countries like Bangladesh, which must balance economic growth with environmental sustainability.

Maya Majuran, co-founder of the Belt and Road Initiative in Sri Lanka, stated, "President Xi's foresight and leadership provide direction for global climate action." China not only emphasizes its green development but also engages in green cooperation with partner countries under the Belt and Road Initiative, showcasing its irreplaceable leadership role, which is particularly uplifting for island nations like Sri Lanka, vulnerable to climate change. "Only through cooperation can we build a sustainable and resilient future."

President Xi affirmed, "China is a staunch action-taker and significant contributor to global green development." He announced that China would unveil its comprehensive 2035 national contributions target, which encompasses all greenhouse gases, before the UN Climate Change Conference in Belém.

UN Secretary-General <b>António Guterres</b> praised Xi's latest climate proposal during a press conference following the summit, calling it "extremely significant" for global climate action. He noted that leaders from multiple countries have pledged to submit ambitious new climate action plans, sending a strong signal of unity in tackling climate change. "As we heard today, the world is moving forward rapidly. No nation or interest group can halt the clean energy revolution."

Gareth Redmond-King, International Project Director at the UK-based Energy and Climate Information Group, remarked, "The commitment of countries to achieve new national contributions indicates that, despite setbacks and some countries retracting, the multilateral process continues... International cooperation remains vibrant."

Renato Balderrama, a researcher at the Mexican Center for Economic Teaching and Research, noted that President Xi's commitment to announcing the 2035 national contributions target showcases China's steadfast commitment and responsibility in global climate governance. Currently, China possesses an entire industrial chain advantage in solar, wind, electric vehicles, and energy storage, ranking among the top globally and continuously supplying green technologies and products to the international market, which is an important reflection of China's modernization efforts and its provision of global public goods.

Clifford Cobb, Deputy Director of the US-China Postmodern Development Institute, highly commended China's efforts to combat climate change, stating that China leads global renewable energy production and is taking effective measures to reduce carbon emissions while improving efficiency in industrial production and transportation. He mentioned that successful cases like China's ecological governance projects in the Loess Plateau could be applied globally to combat desertification and improve soil quality, addressing issues such as farmland erosion due to global warming.

Yatna Supriatna, Director of the Climate Change Research Center at the University of Indonesia, emphasized the importance of learning from China's experiences in pollution control and low-carbon development, particularly how to transform heavily polluted cities into clean ones. China's ecological restoration projects enhance carbon sink capacity, contributing to global climate governance.

The <b>Guardian</b> reported that President Xi highlighted, "China has built the world's largest and fastest-growing renewable energy system and established the most comprehensive new energy industrial chain," stressing that "China's actions to address climate change will not slow down." The article noted the significance of China's participation in this summit, as it positions itself as a stable and predictable country on the world stage and an important partner for developing nations.

President Xi emphasized, "No matter how the international situation changes, China's actions to address climate change will not waver, and efforts to promote international cooperation will not diminish. The practice of building a community with a shared future for humanity will not cease."

Tang Zhiming, Director of the China-ASEAN Research Center at Charoen Pokphand Management Institute in Thailand, highlighted President Xi's commitment to uphold multilateralism and foster inclusivity, transcending barriers and conflicts. He contrasted this with the unilateralism and disregard for international rules exhibited by certain major powers.

Sheikh Khorzhumbayev, Editor-in-Chief of the <b>Kazakhstan Industrial Newspaper</b>, stated, "The more complex global challenges become, the more we need collective wisdom. In addressing the global climate crisis, it is vital to adhere to the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and uphold multilateralism. True multilateralism is about cooperative win-win solutions, not zero-sum games. In climate cooperation, each party may feel a loss, but humanity is not short-sighted; the ultimate beneficiaries of climate cooperation are all of humanity."

Lu Yaoqun, Director of the Institute of Governance and Sustainable Development at the National University of Singapore, remarked on the significance of President Xi's address at the Climate and Just Transition Leaders Summit, especially at a critical juncture where some major economies are regressing on sustainable development commitments. He highlighted the importance of multilateral cooperation in advancing climate transition, noting that while developing countries are actively addressing climate change, they require support from developed nations to better undertake responsibilities for mitigating and adapting to climate change. China plays a crucial role in promoting strong climate action among all parties and building a better world.

Philip Clayton, President of the American Institute for Ecological Civilization, called for countries to unite in addressing climate change as a global crisis. Countries with advanced technologies should develop and share green technologies with developing nations. The global market is the fastest and most effective platform for promoting green technologies and products, and imposing high tariffs and trade barriers is counterproductive. "Only by making green technologies accessible to as many people as possible can we overcome the climate crisis, and China's initiatives are driving this goal forward."

Senior Lao diplomat Sykhun Benvilae remarked that China has demonstrated an open mind in technology sharing and green investment. China is not only a steadfast practitioner of the <b>Paris Agreement</b> but also helps many developing countries, including Laos, enhance their climate resilience and green development through technology sharing, capacity building, and project cooperation. This pragmatic and efficient South-South cooperation model injects new momentum into global climate action.

Nanda Kumar Janadana, Deputy Director of the Climate and Energy Department at the Institute for Earth Environment Strategy in Japan, asserted that maintaining multilateralism, promoting a just transition, and sharing green innovation are crucial for achieving a secure and prosperous future. By working together, countries can build a resilient Earth for all.