“Many hands make light work.” Chinese Minister of Ecology and Environment Huang Runqiu briefed a press conference held by the State Council Information Office on Thursday on efforts to advance the building of a Beautiful China.

"The cumulative trading volume of China's national carbon emissions rights trading market had exceeded 930 million tonnes by the end of July," Huang told a press conference.

Looking ahead to the 15th Five-Year Plan period, China will place greater emphasis on improving people's well-being through ecological and environmental protection and addressing environmental problems at the source, while accelerating the green and low-carbon transformation of industrial, energy and transport structures, Huang said.

Speaking of public participation, Huang said, “Many hands make light work.” Building a Beautiful China is a cause that requires the participation and joint efforts of everyone, with its benefits shared by all.

The landmark Ecological and Environmental Code is set to take effect on Aug. 15, 2026, laying a solid legal cornerstone for pursuing Chinese modernization with human-nature harmony as a distinctive feature. (Huang Fang, Lin Mengnan)