From realizing peak emissions and vitalization to promoting BRI and RCEP trade, eastern province determined to do its part.

Fujian province residents are well-known for their enterprising spirit, which in recent years has enabled them to build thriving industries, achieve sustained socioeconomic growth, and make their lives prosperous and their surroundings beautiful.

The province's GDP increased 2.4 times between 2012 and 2021, growing from 2.02 trillion yuan ($298.7 billion) to 4.88 trillion yuan, according to the Fujian Provincial Bureau of Statistics.

Addressing the 14th Straits Forum held in Xiamen on July 13, Yin Li, secretary of the Communist Party of China's Fujian Provincial Committee, said that the province has made great headway in high-quality development over the past decade thanks to the united efforts and pioneering endeavors of its residents.

In this new stage of development, Fujian seeks to make greater progress in hastening the creation of a modern economic system, to serve and integrate with the new national development paradigm, blaze a trail for integrated development across the Taiwan Straits and enable people to live better lives, officials said.

In pushing for comprehensive quality growth, Fujian will continue to follow the new national development philosophy, develop a real economy and upgrade and optimize its industrial infrastructure in order to improve core competitiveness.

While pursuing economic growth, the province is working to become greener. Its forest coverage rate of 66.8 percent has been the highest nationwide for decades. The quality of its environment, water and air also rank among the best in the country.

Thanks to environmental protection measures, Fujian has been able to take the lead in national efforts to create what President Xi Jinping calls "an ecological civilization", a goal set by the Communist Party of China to beautify the country through sustainable development.

The president's associated concepts that "lucid waters and lush mountains are priceless assets" and that "resources should be used sustainably for the benefit of future generations" are hardwired into the considerations of the province's residents.

Changkou, a village in Sanming city, is a good example of a settlement that combines rural vitalization with national conservation efforts, based on Xi's philosophy.

A former industrial center known for producing iron, coke, carbides, chemical fertilizers, cement and plastic products, Sanming has been transformed into a green city.

In recent years, some 170 mines have been closed and a law enforcement team has been established to crack down on illegal mining. Green industries like tourism and healthcare are being developed, while traditional industries are switching to clean production methods.

Zhang Fushou, deputy director at the Fujian Provincial Development and Reform Commission, said that the province is working to create a green, low-carbon development system integrating recycling.

While expanding its energy-saving, environmentally friendly and clean energy industries, Fujian has also stepped up the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries, Zhang said.

Xi, who is also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, knows Fujian intimately. From 1985 to 2002, he held various posts in the province, where he launched a series of reforms of strategic significance and far-reaching influence.

During his inspection tour of Fujian in March last year, Xi urged the province to elaborate a timeline and a road map in a scientific manner to help achieve national goals of peak carbon emissions before 2030 and carbon neutrality before 2060.

He added that in the meantime, Fujian should deepen its cooperation with the Belt and Road Initiative, explore new approaches for integrated development across the Taiwan Straits and further develop pilot free-trade zones along with a new system promoting a higher-level open economy.

Located in a core section of the Maritime Silk Road, which is part of the BRI, Fujian's trade with BRI countries and regions increased by 31.8 percent last year. More than 430 China-Europe freight trains loaded with Fujian-made electronics, machinery, daily necessities and food departed from Xiamen, Wuyishan and Ningde to some 30 cities in 10 countries, including Russia and Germany.

Meng Qian, director of the Fujian Provincial Development and Reform Commission, said that the province will work to promote the high-quality development of the Maritime Silk Road, strengthen international economic and trade cooperation and contribute to stabilizing international industrial and supply chains.

Between January and May, trade between Fujian and countries of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, the world's largest free trade agreement, reached 249.7 billion yuan, amounting to around one-third of its total import and export trade volume. Investment from RCEP countries reached 2.25 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 11 percent, according to statistics from the Fujian Provincial Development and Reform Commission.