Xi Jinping gave an 'important speech' at the National Conference on Eco-environmental Protection held in Beijing from May 18 to 19. He stressed the need to"consciously integrate economic and social development with the building of an ecological civilization, give full play to the party’s leadership and the political advantages" of China's socialist system and promote the construction of ecological civilization, solve the problems of the ecological environment, and resolutely fight the battle against pollution. PBSC Members Premier Li Keqiang, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji and Han Zheng attended. Li Keqiang addressed the meeting and Han Zheng delivered the concluding speech.

Xi Jinping emphasized that the "Chinese civilization, which stretches for more than 5,000 years, bred a rich ecological culture" and called for implementation of “China's Implementation of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda Country Plan” and implementing the “National Plan for Climate Change (2014-2020)” to promote the development of ecological environment protection. He stressed that "the ecological environment is a major political issue related to the party's mission and a major social issue that affects the people's livelihood". 

The People’s Daily published four Commentator articles supporting Xi Jinping’s May 19, speech on fighting the battle against pollution and building an ecological civilization.