The Chinese government has taken measures to promote economic growth, such as deepening reform and adjustment controls. However, it will not merely emphasize GDP any longer or adopt means of strong stimulation. The Chinese economy is developing steadily and rapidly. Local governments should stress ecological and social construction while changing the concept of “GDP focus.” This requires us to adhere to a reasonable ecological and scientific outlook in terms of development, and establish a systematic long-effect mechanism to achieve steady and sustainable growth.

China’s weakening GDP assessment will undoubtedly lead to new problems, such as a decline in economic growth and increased pressure on government finance and society. We should actively adjust the development strategy in a bid to enhance its momentum.
 

Firstly, we should foster transformation of the ecological wealth structure. The transition from a productive-type wealth structure to an ecological-type wealth structure will advance overall ecological development. Local governments should adjust development concepts with great courage and wisdom, gradually forming a development path that emphasizes ecology and efficiency.
 

In particular, through comprehensive reform in the fields of elements, market and production, we should realize Trinitarian ecological fortune growth including wealth (increase and accumulation of economical and ecological assets), health (of both mankind and ecological system) and civilization (in materialism, spirit and ecology), instead of only pursuing economic growth or ecological protection.
 

Secondly, we should adhere to the development concept of ecological value. To promote ecological development, we should restrict development of existing traditional industries that don’t meet ecological requirements, even if it means abandoning tempting opportunities.
 

Meanwhile, we should still take developing the economy as the main task while weakening GDP assessment. It is therefore necessary to speed up reform, perfect mechanisms and intensify policy support. Adjustments should be made to elements and market allocation, government-market relations, indicators for assessment, and regulations.
 

We should push reform of industrial management system. Ecological development committees may be established in a province for unified management of element resources, rights and obligations in various sectors including agriculture, forestry, land and tourism. This will lead to cohesion of development powers and promotion of ecological development.
 

Former phenomena should be changed, such as dispersed rights in ecological management departments, lack of consistency between rights and functions, and inefficient supervision. Traditional methods of supervision should be reformed, while administrative and democratic supervision should be intensified.
 

We should also push ecological market-oriented reform aimed at stimulating economic growth. Amid weakening GDP assessment, economic vitality should be formed based on sustainable growth of local ecological value and wealth. We need to establish a scientific and operable system of ecological value assessment and spur people’s initiative for creating ecological value to provide funds for ecological construction. Meanwhile, we should strive for breakthroughs in closing drain outlets, treating domestic sewage, classifying waste and promoting a low-carbon lifestyle.
 

We should push for the transformation and upgrading of the ecological industry, occupying a commanding height of economic development. Taking the path of ecological development, we need to focus on competitive advantages over the next decade or three. It is also vital to actively distribute core industries with advanced productivity and ecological value, such as health care and pensions, and industries related to culture, entertainment, the Internet and ecology.
 

Irrespective of whether we weaken GDP assessment, we should establish and perfect policy systems of evaluation, trade and supervision for ecological resources and environment.

 

Construction of the ecological system should form the core of these measures. Normalization of ecological supervision should be realized by establishing mechanisms for market-oriented management, ecological assessment, accountability and ecological compensation.

 

Nie Xianzhong is a research fellow with the Institute of Industrial Economics of Zhejiang Academy of Social Sciences.