China demonstrates that developing countries can pursue a new path in which development and environmental protection advance together, according to Huang Chengliang, secretary general of the Research Center for Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. The 15th Five-Year Plan outlines coordinated efforts to cut carbon emissions, reduce pollution, pursue green development, and boost economic growth, breaking the misconception that environmental protection hinders development. China has built the world's largest clean power supply system, with renewable energy accounting for over 60 percent of total installed capacity, and its new energy vehicle sales have ranked first globally for 10 consecutive years, exceeding 50 percent of domestic new car sales in 2025. The country has set a 30-year timeline between carbon peaking and carbon neutrality, much shorter than the 50 to 70 years typical of developed nations, and in September 2025 announced its first economy-wide absolute emissions reduction target covering all greenhouse gases. Huang emphasized that the concept that lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets offers a new vision for developing countries, showing that protecting the environment is protecting productive forces and that ecological governance is a direct source of public well-being.