Financial “living water” precisely irrigates and enhances the ecological foundation of Xingjing—Zeshi Consulting helps Xingjing promote high-quality giant panda conservation efforts.

Introduction

The construction of ecological civilization is a long-term strategic plan that is closely linked to the well-being of the people and determines the future of our nation. It is an essential component of the “Five-in-One” overall layout and an inevitable choice for building a beautiful China. It holds great significance in meeting the people’s growing expectations for a better ecological environment and in fostering a Chinese-style modernization characterized by harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature. Yingjing County has thoroughly implemented the important instructions of General Secretary Xi Jinping on Sichuan’s work and Ya’an’s development, earnestly put into practice the philosophy that "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets," accelerated the pace of building a beautiful Yingjing, and is striving to write a splendid chapter for a beautiful Sichuan in Yingjing.
I. Highlight key priorities for giant panda conservation and promote habitat restoration with high quality.
Xingjing was historically known as Yan Dao and served as an important stopover along the Ancient Tea-Horse Road and the Ancient Southern Silk Road. With a forest coverage rate of 80.3%, Xingjing County boasts the highest forest coverage rate among all districts and counties in Sichuan Province. The Sichuan section of the Giant Panda National Park covers 20,177 square kilometers, accounting for 74.36% of the park’s total area and encompassing 20 counties (cities and districts) across 7 cities (prefectures). Among these, the Xingjing sub-region of the Giant Panda National Park is located in the southern part of the park, covering an area of 865.68 square kilometers (48.7% of Xingjing County’s total land area). It is an essential component of the ecological barrier in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River. The establishment of the Giant Panda National Park presents a significant opportunity for the development of Longcanggou in Xingjing County.

Since the pilot program for the Giant Panda National Park system was launched in 2017, Xingjing County has adhered to a “two-pronged approach”: on the one hand, it has focused on ecological and environmental protection, transforming barren mountains into lush green ones; on the other hand, it has promoted green transformation and development, turning these green mountains into golden mountains. As a result, Xingjing County has maintained the top position in the province for many years in terms of its ecological and environmental status index and has successfully established itself as a national practice and innovation base for realizing the principle that "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets." The county’s approach and experience—using the construction of the Giant Panda National Park as a driving force to advance ecological conservation and green transformation—have become a model and highlight for practicing the “Two Mountains” theory within national parks, setting an exemplary standard for ecological civilization construction that is both visitable, demonstrable, and suitable for educational purposes.

II. Promote coordinated development through a circular model and innovatively establish a collaborative mechanism for park construction.
To ensure high-quality conservation of giant pandas and restoration of their habitats, the People’s Government of Xingjing County has been actively exploring the “Four-Pronged Conservation” approach—comprehensive conservation, standardized conservation, scientific conservation, and collaborative conservation. Following the development philosophy of “people retreat, pandas advance,” the county has implemented ecological relocation, leading to the phasing out of resource-based industries—such as coal mining, stone quarrying, small hydropower, and high-energy-consuming enterprises—that have long been the mainstay of local residents’ livelihoods. As a result, many local villagers have found themselves unable to secure alternative sources of income.
To address the challenging issue of balancing conservation and development, Xingjing County has proactively adapted to the ecological conservation requirements of the Giant Panda National Park by innovating a tiered development model that achieves “people retreat, pandas advance,” thus forging a path of coordinated and mutually beneficial coexistence between national park construction and local economic development. In the general control zone, nature education and eco-experience activities aligned with the national park’s conservation and management objectives are promoted, enabling “harmonious coexistence between humans and pandas.” Meanwhile, in the peripheral communities, efforts are being made to foster integrated cultural and tourism development centered around the giant panda brand, guiding and encouraging local residents to develop distinctive, authentically ecological industries and exploring a path toward “shared prosperity between humans and pandas.”
III. Precise “Living Water” of Finance Drips to Enhance the Ecological Foundation of Xingjing
In May 2023, to promote the high-quality development of ecological civilization in Xingjing County, Zeshi Consulting, entrusted by the client, undertook the “self-sustaining” work for ecological civilization construction. We dispatched personnel to conduct on-site research in Xingjing County, conducting in-depth analysis of relevant information such as natural resources, industrial planning, and market prospects in the project area. We intervened early in the project planning phase and tailored financing service solutions specifically for the project. Zeshi Consulting adheres to government leadership, strengthens comprehensive communication and coordination with local governments and enterprises, and promotes the establishment of a close cooperation mechanism integrating "financing + intellectual support."

On May 22, 2023, Yingjing County launched its “International Day for Biological Diversity” event, themed “From Agreement to Action: Restoring Biodiversity.” The event provided a platform for joint deliberation on biodiversity conservation efforts and marked a new chapter in collaborative biodiversity protection. Taking this opportunity, the Public Education Center of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment signed a Strategic Cooperation Agreement with the People’s Government of Ya’an City, titled “On Supporting Ya’an City’s Development as a Model City for Green Development.” Under this agreement, both parties will collaborate on advancing the construction of the Academy of Ecological Civilization, developing a world-renowned nature education base, innovating and piloting biodiversity-friendly urban practices, and shaping and promoting ecological civilization brands.

Zeshi Consulting closely aligns with the goal of transforming the ecological value of well-protected national parks into economic value for green industrial development. We are closely following the work initiatives and arrangements in Yingjing County, ensuring thorough and meticulous implementation of policies—from building a community of life between humans and nature to creating an industrial ecosystem that realizes a community of shared future for humans and nature. With ecological civilization construction at its core, we are implementing and planning the Yingjing County Ecological Civilization College and Practical Training Base project.
The main components of this project include the construction of the Civilization College and ecological restoration work around the college. By improving regional infrastructure and establishing a comprehensive system of teaching facilities, we will create an integrated platform that combines ecological conservation, scientific research and education, and cultural dissemination, providing strong support for ecological and environmental training as well as local public training programs.
Through a comprehensive and meticulous investigation of the project, combined with local conditions, we conducted thorough policy analysis for both policy banks and commercial banks, as well as financial evaluations. We analyzed and calculated the project’s profitability, debt-servicing capacity, and financial viability. Moreover, we engaged extensively in communication and exchanges with both policy banks and commercial banks, tailoring financing solutions specifically to meet the project’s needs and effectively addressing the funding bottlenecks encountered during project implementation. At the beginning of 2024, through coordinated efforts and close collaboration among the government, enterprises, and banks, we successfully secured approval for a project loan totaling 240 million RMB, providing solid financial support to accelerate the construction of the Yingjing County Academy of Ecological Civilization and its practical training base.
This project represents a renewed understanding and rational utilization of existing ecological resources, serving as an important practice for facilitating the transformation of ecological value into green economic value. The implementation of this project will strongly promote coordinated development of garden and rural areas in Yingjing County, ensuring a win-win situation between ecological conservation and economic growth. It will also provide local residents with new avenues for economic growth and employment opportunities, while safeguarding and enhancing the ecological value of the Giant Panda National Park, thus laying a solid foundation for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
Looking ahead, Zeshi Consulting will continue to uphold its corporate mission of "serving society and delivering value," working closely with the Yingjing County Government and partners from all sectors to jointly propel Yingjing County—and the entire Sichuan region—toward a brighter and more prosperous future.

Written by/Xu Ying

Editor/Wei Juan
Reviewed and Proofread by/Wu Dya

Editor-in-Chief/Zeng Huaqian

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute any investment advice.