Analyse
The exact phrasing—'**Green mountains and clear waters are as valuable as mountains of gold and silver**' (绿水青山就是金山银山)—is a direct and well-documented quote from Xi’s May 18–19, 2018 speech at the conference, as reported by **Xinhua** and other state media. The second sentence ('*prioritize ecology and pursue green development*') paraphrases the core tenets of China’s **'Ecological Civilization'** policy framework, which Xi has repeatedly championed since 2012. Official transcripts and policy documents, including the **19th Party Congress report (2017)** and the **13th Five-Year Plan (2016–2020)**, corroborate this prioritization. No credible sources contradict the attribution or intent of the statement.
Achtergrond
The phrase originated in Xi’s 2005 remarks as Zhejiang Party Secretary and was later elevated to national policy under his presidency. It reflects China’s shift toward balancing economic growth with environmental protection, codified in laws like the **2018 Environmental Protection Tax Law** and initiatives such as the **'Beautiful China'** campaign. The 2018 conference itself was a high-level meeting to implement these goals, with Xi’s speech setting binding targets for pollution reduction and ecological restoration.
Samenvatting verdict
Xi Jinping did make this statement at the 2018 National Conference on Ecological and Environmental Protection, and it aligns with China’s documented policy emphasis on ecological conservation and 'green development'.