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Speakers:

Mr. Zhuang Shaoqin, vice minister of natural resources

Mr. Liu Guohong, a member of the CPC Leading Group of the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) and chief engineer of the MNR 

Mr. Li Chunliang, vice administrator of the National Forestry and Grassland Administration (NFGA)

Mr. Zhang Zhanhai, chief engineer of the MNR

Mr. Yu Haifeng, director general of the Geological Exploration Department, MNR

Chairperson:

Ms. Shou Xiaoli, spokesperson of the Publicity Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC)

Date:

Sept. 19, 2022

Shou Xiaoli:

Ladies and gentlemen, good morning. Welcome to this press conference held by the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee. Today, we are holding the 33rd press conference under the theme of "China in the past decade." We are delighted to have invited Mr. Zhuang Shaoqin, vice minister of natural resources; Mr. Liu Guohong, a member of the CPC Leading Group of the MNR and the ministry's chief engineer; and Mr. Li Chunliang, vice administrator of the NFGA, to brief you on achievements in China's natural resources development in the new era and take your questions. Also joining us today are Mr. Zhang Zhanhai, chief engineer of the MNR, and Mr. Yu Haifeng, director general of the Geological Exploration Department, MNR.

Now, let's give the floor to Mr. Zhuang Shaoqin for his introduction.

Zhuang Shaoqin:

Ladies and gentlemen, friends from the media, good morning. First of all, I would like to thank the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee for giving us the opportunity to take part in this press conference, and to thank you for your long-term care, support and help for the natural resources sector.

Since the 18th CPC National Congress, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, with a strategic perspective of the sustained development of the Chinese nation, has deeply promoted the reform of the ecological civilization system. The past years have seen historic achievements and changes in China's natural resources development, which have effectively promoted the modernization of harmonious coexistence between man and nature.

Over the past decade, we have kept in mind the worst-case scenarios, strictly protected farmland, effectively guaranteed the supply of resources, and effectively supported high-quality development and a high quality of life. We have continued to implement the most stringent farmland protection system, strictly set a redline ensuring that the total farmland shall be no less than 1.8 billion mu (120 million hectares), and consolidated the foundation of national food security. We have continued to strengthen basic geological surveys and mineral resource exploration. The reserves of major mineral resources increased, and the outputs of coal, tungsten and other mineral products have ranked first in the world for many years. Significant progress has been made in extracting gas hydrates, or what we usually call "flammable ice." We have optimized the layout of land and space in accordance with laws and regulations, ensured the supply of land in an orderly manner, and effectively supported the implementation of major national strategies such as coordinated regional development, new urbanization and rural revitalization. Land used for urban housing, parks and green spaces, and public service facilities has grown substantially, and the living environment in urban and rural areas has improved significantly.

Over the past decade, we have thoroughly implemented a comprehensive resource conservation strategy, continued to improve the ability to conserve and effectively use resources, and promoted the comprehensive green transformation of economic and social development. We have adhered to and implemented the most stringent system of economical use of land, controlled the total amount and intensity of land used for construction, and improved the evaluation system for economical use of land across regions and projects. We have put inefficiently utilized land into use to meet the increasing needs for construction. We strictly marked the boundaries of urban development and promoted high-quality green urban development featuring efficiency and effectiveness. From 2012 to 2021, the land used for construction per unit of GDP nationwide dropped by 40.85%, and the economic density of land increased significantly. In accordance with the requirements of resource conservation and green development, a survey and evaluation system for the development and utilization of mineral resources has been established to promote the comprehensive utilization of resources and accelerate the development of green mining.

Over the past decade, we have followed the philosophy that lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets, and the concept that mountains, rivers, forests, farmlands, lakes, grasslands and deserts form a living community. The quality and stability of the ecosystem have continued to improve, which has effectively promoted the building of a beautiful China. We have adhered to and implemented the most stringent environmental protection system, scientifically set redlines for ecological protection, and brought the total area under protection to more than 30% of China's territory. Except for major national projects, coastal reclamation activities are no longer allowed, and new island reclamation is strictly controlled. A system of nature reserves with national parks as the mainstay has been established, the first batch of national parks has been established, and natural and cultural heritage resources have been protected and used in an orderly manner. The value and advantages of China's diverse natural resources have been further brought into play. We have adhered to systematic governance, retained security boundaries for the natural environment, and provided high-quality ecological products for the people. We have promoted the implementation of major projects for the protection and restoration of important ecosystems across the country, and deployed and implemented a number of integrated protection and restoration projects for mountains, rivers, forests, farmlands, lakes, grasslands and deserts, and the quality of river and lake ecosystems has been significantly improved. Forest coverage has increased to 24.02%, and the desertified land under management has achieved a historic change from "sand encroaching on human habitats" to "people pushing back the deserts."

In the past 10 years, we have advanced the reform of ecological conservation system, and improved the natural resources governance system and capacity by stepping up scientific and technological innovation and applying information technology. We have pressed ahead with the reform of the property rights system for natural resources assets. We have established a system for the confirmation and registration of natural resources ownerships, explored a principal-agent system for the property rights of natural resources assets owned by the whole people, and set up a paid-use mechanism for natural resources covering major categories such as land and mineral resources. Completing the third national land survey, the MNR compiled China's first territorial spatial planning outline and set up a unified planning system for national territorial space. We have advanced reforms in the natural resources field to delegate power, streamline administration, and optimize government services. Based on unified criteria, unified planning, and the same digital map and platform, we have integrated various review and approval items into one, various certifications into one, and streamlined various kinds of surveying and mapping into one. That means immovable property can be registered at one department rather than various departments as before. It takes at most five days for common registration and mortgage registration of immovable property in all cities and counties across China, which helps improve the business environment. Based on the real scene 3D China project, we have been building a new type of basic surveying and mapping system to promote digital and smart territorial spatial planning. The investigation, monitoring, early-warning, and prevention and control systems for geological and marine disasters have been improved, which have reduced casualties and property damage caused by disasters. We promulgated the Wetland Protection Law and revised the Land Management Law, Forest Law, and Surveying and Mapping Law. We have intensified the national supervision and inspection of natural resources, protecting natural resources and the ecological environment with the strictest system and law-based governance. In so doing, we have formed a rational process for land development strictly based on functional zoning. 

In the past decade, we have engaged in international cooperation to promote the global governance of natural resources and ecological conservation. We have contributed to global ecological conservation, the building of a community of all life on Earth, the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, as well as the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. Together with the International Union for Conservation of Nature, we released typical Chinese practices through nature-based solutions. We have participated in the maritime governance mechanism within the UN framework and launched China's action for a Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030). We have actively forged blue partnerships and established marine cooperative relations with more than 50 countries and international organizations, providing public goods and services, including tsunami pre-warning for countries around the South China Sea. We donated high-resolution global land cover data to the UN and set up a UN Global Geospatial Knowledge and Innovation Center in China.

Next, on the new journey, guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, we will apply the new development philosophy in full, in the right way, and in all fields of endeavor. Focusing on the new development paradigm, we will strive to break new ground in promoting natural resources development so as to make more contributions to fully building a modern socialist China. 

Now, my colleagues and I would like to take your questions. Thank you.

Shou Xiaoli:

Thank you, Mr. Zhuang. Now the floor is open for questions. Please identify the media outlet you represent before raising questions.