Chinese Ambassador to Dominica Chu Maoming Publishes an Article Entitled 'Green Development: Delivering Win-Win for Growth and Nature'

On March 27, H.E. Chu Maoming, Chinese Ambassador to Dominica, published a signed article titled Green Development: Delivering Win-Win for Growth and Nature in Dominica's mainstream newspaper The Chronicle. In the article, Ambassador Chu analyzes China's approach to governance through the lens of the green development, helping to enhance mutual trust, address doubts, and boost confidence in practical cooperation between China and Dominica.Full Text：

Recently, I have taken note of public discussions regarding the International Airport project in Dominica. Some firmly believe that quarrying activities of the project have damaged the local ecological environment and call for an immediate halt. Others argue that the airport project is vital to national development, that quarrying is justified and necessary, and that normal construction should not be disrupted.

Objectively speaking, concerns about ecological protection raised by some are not without merit. Since the advent of the industrial age, human society, while achieving rapid development, has also accelerated the exploitation of natural resources, causing severe damage to the global ecological environment. Faced with the painful lessons of history, people have grown increasingly uncertain about how to balance urgent development needs with environmental protection. On the one hand lies our only home for survival; on the other, the practical necessity of economic development. How should the two be weighed?

In fact, development and ecological protection are not a matter of choice between one or the other, but rather of balance and coordination. As the world's largest developing country, China has faced enormous pressure in environmental governance. In response to the urgent need for transformation, my President H.E. Xi Jinping has repeatedly emphasized that "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets," identifying green development as a key component of the new development philosophy. Under his leadership, China has advanced ecological conservation with unprecedented intensity, continuously improving environmental quality and achieving notable results.

The philosophy of green development is not only a key to China's effective governance, but also part of the wisdom and solutions China contributes to global environmental governance. Not long ago, China's Legislature deliberated and adopted the Ecological and Environmental Code of the People's Republic of China, the world's first legal code named after ecological environment. It integrates China's existing ecological and environmental legal frameworks and systematically addresses environmental challenges facing humanity, marking a new stage in advancing Chinese modernization featuring harmony between humanity and nature at the outset of the 15th Five-Year Plan period. Some of its practices can be distilled to provide new approaches for countries of the Global South, including Dominica, in addressing the tension between development and environmental protection.

First, planning must come first. Major infrastructure projects bear on national development and people's livelihoods, with far-reaching impacts. Therefore, environmental impact assessments must be completed prior to construction to identify potential environmental risks and avoid ecological damage at the planning and design stage. For example, during the construction of Kunming Changshui International Airport, innovative structural designs were adopted to utilize underground space, while work areas were planned in harmony with the terrain. Through soil backfilling and vegetation transplantation, ecological protection and water resource reuse were effectively achieved.

Second, environmental restoration must proceed in parallel. While construction inevitably causes some ecological disruption, it is essential to fulfill legal responsibilities to eliminate pollution and restore damaged ecosystems. Timely ecological rehabilitation should be carried out in affected areas to ensure no degradation of ecological functions or decline in environmental quality. For instance, during preparations for the Beijing Winter Olympics, the competition zone was built in the beautiful mountainous area, but it was ensured that all original topsoil was preserved and restored after construction, and valuable trees were protected either in situ or through transplantation, achieving harmony between sports facilities and the natural environment.

Third, energy transition must be advanced. As energy demand tends to rise with development, priority should be given to renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and geothermal energy, alongside energy-saving technologies, to optimize the energy mix and reduce carbon intensity. This enables a low-carbon, efficient, and clean development path, where development itself becomes a driver of ecological improvement. For example, Beijing Daxing International Airport allows 60 percent of its indoor space to be illuminated by natural light, reducing the need for artificial lighting. Its double-layer "breathing" curtain wall system regulates indoor temperatures like an ecological skin, cutting energy consumption by 30 percent compared with national standards.

Dominica, the Nature Isle of the Caribbean, possesses an excellent ecological environment that is both an invaluable asset and the foundation of people's well-being. During his meetings with President Sylvanie Burton and Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, President Xi emphasized that China attaches great importance to the concerns of small island developing states like Dominica on climate change and stands ready to support efforts to enhance climate resilience and disaster prevention and mitigation, while deepening cooperation in infrastructure and clean energy.

At present, a number of practical cooperation projects between China and Dominica are progressing smoothly. Throughout the construction process, both sides are implementing the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, giving equal importance to development and ecological protection. Take the international airport project, which has drawn public attention, as an example: the Chinese contractor conducted environmental assessments prior to construction and carefully planned quarrying and other potentially impactful activities, ensuring that environmental restoration will be carried out promptly after operations are completed. In addition, in the post-hurricane reconstruction of six schools, Chinese companies have actively incorporated climate and environmental considerations into their designs, making these campuses not only places for learning but also anchors for ecological protection and climate resilience.

All this demonstrates that green development is the key to resolving the tension between development and environmental protection. China and Dominica have always shared common ground in advancing green transformation. China stands ready to work hand in hand with Dominica to strengthen cooperation, support Dominica in achieving its goal of becoming the world's first climate-resilient nation, and ensure that the fruits of China-Dominica cooperation benefit future generations.