The International Horticultural Exhibition 2019 begins in Beijing on April 28. Chinese President Xi Jinping addressed the opening ceremony (XINHUA)

Editor's Note: The opening ceremony of the International Horticultural Exhibition 2019 began in Beijing on April 28, 2019. Chinese President Xi Jinping addressed the ceremony under the theme of Working Together for a Green and Better Future for All. The following is an edited excerpt of his speech:

The Expo, as indicated by its theme Live Green, Live Better, aims to promote respect for the environment and a better life in harmony with nature. It is our hope that this Expo Park, designed to blend into its splendid surrounding landscape, will demonstrate China's vision of eco-friendly and sustainable development.

Promoting ecological conservation

The Chinese nation, with its 5,000 years of human history, is home to beautiful landscapes and scenery and has long nurtured the notion of harmony between man and nature.

Ecological conservation has become part of China's overall plan for national development. Building a beautiful country inspires Chinese people--as China steps up its conservation efforts, a country with more blue skies, lush mountains and lucid waters will emerge.

Looking at human civilizations across history, we can see that the rise or fall of a society is dependent on its relationship with nature. Industrialization, while generating unprecedented material wealth, has incurred serious damage to Mother Nature. Development without thought to the future of the earth is not sustainable way to progress.

The way forward should be green development that focuses on harmony with nature and eco-friendly progress.

We live on a spaceship earth, and this is the only home we will ever have. We must work to protect this planet like our own eyes, and to cherish nature the way we cherish life. We must preserve what gives out planet life and embrace sustainable development in line with this principle.

Pursuing green development

It is imperative to recognize the need to advocate harmony between man and nature. Lush mountains, green fields, singing birds and blossoming flowers offer more than visual beauty. They are the basis for future development. Nature punishes those who exploit and plunder it brutally, and rewards those who use and protect it carefully. We must maintain the overall balance of the Earth's eco-system, not only to ensure that future generations can continue to access material wealth, but to also ensure that they can enjoy the wonders of the natural world.

It is necessary to pursue economic prosperity through sustainable development, otherwise known as green development. Green is the color of nature. I have always said that green mountains and lucid waters are invaluable assets, and that environmental improvement leads to greater productivity. An environment that is well looked after promises economic potential, generates good returns, and contributes to economic and social sustainability.

Moreover, we need to follow a philosophy that respects and reveres nature. The conservation of the environment can be attained by monitoring and limiting the use of natural resources. There also needs to be greater promotion of a simpler, greener and low-carbon lifestyle, as well as a strong condemnation of excessive practices. Additionally, it is integral to raise people's awareness of environmental issues, and this can be achieved by developing a conservation system that includes people whilst injecting mainstream ecological conservation into every aspect of social life. We need to advocate the value of green development that reveres and cares for nature so that blue skies, green fields and clear waters will be a vision cherished by all.

Moreover, scientific policies should be pursued as the foundation on which to create a harmonious ecosystem in which all elements can coexist in tandem with one another. By following the laws of nature and making use of meticulous scientific research, we can adopt a holistic and well-informed approach to conservatism that also factors in regional and local differences. Human wisdom is essential to sustaining the dynamism of Earth, our common homeland. Ecological conservation may be a long and arduous effort. We must press ahead with a sense of urgency and perseverance to achieve our goals.

We need to join hands to meet common challenges. A beautiful homeland is the shared aspiration of mankind. In the face of environmental challenges, all countries are in a community with destinies linked, and no country can stay immune. Only together can we effectively address climate change, marine pollution, biological conservation and other global environmental issues and achieve the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Only concerted efforts can drive home the idea of green development and bring about steady progress in the ecological conservation of the globe.

China is ready to work with all other countries to build a better homeland and a community with a shared future for mankind.

Every generation has its own mission. Our efforts to conserve the eco-system will benefit not only this generation, but many more to come. By acting now and starting to act ourselves, we can pass on the baton of conservation to future generations and sustain this planet for as long as possible.