Visitors pose in front of a field of flowers in Xianju county, in Zhejiang province. These days, an increasing number of urban residents in Zhejiang go to rural areas for getaways, to take in and enjoy the environment. (Photo/IC)

Zhejiang's efforts in environmental protection and development came under the international spotlight as the annual general meeting of China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development, or CCICED, kicked off in Hangzhou, capital of the East China province, on June 3.

"I hope the green development of Zhejiang can spread around the world," said Erik Solheim, former executive director of United Nations Environment Programme and now vice-chairman of CCICED. He spoke highly of Zhejiang's initiatives in protecting the environment at the meeting.

In the wake of the province's decision to build an ecologically friendly region in the early 21st century, it's been a pathfinder in sharing its experiences with the rest of the world. Serving as a window, Zhejiang has shown China's determination in green development to the whole world.

A sanitary worker retrieves refuse floating on water in Xianju, in Zhejiang province, on May 28. (Photo/IC)

In 2013, statistics showed there were 174 heavily polluted days in Zhejiang. However, after six years of green initiatives, that number has turned to zero. At the same time, more than 6,000-kilometers of "garbage" waterways have been cleaned up.

Officials said Zhejiang successfully devised a system of supervising mechanisms and effective ways of monitoring the environment. A system involving 62,000 officials who patrol the waterways, has greatly improved the efficiency of the province's water treatment.

Meanwhile, the provincial government measured the region's development not just in terms of GDP, but in the protection and development of natural resources, especially places with severe environmental problems.

Officials said the far-reaching effects of the province's emphasis on environmentally friendly development modes now stretch to every rural village in Zhejiang and the benefits abound.

Lujia village in Anji county, has successfully transformed itself into a popular tourist destination through ecological restoration. Tangdi village in Shaoxing city became a national demonstration village for its habitability, by virtue of flower plantations.

Residential buildings are in harmony with the natural surroundings in a village in Anji county, in Zhejiang. (Photo/IC)

More than 150 homestays, regularly used by foreign visitors, have been opened in Deqing of Huzhou, contributing to the blooming local tourism industry. Last year the county received 7,668,000 tourists.

Last year, Zhejiang's Green Rural Revival Programme was honored with a Champions of the Earth Award, the UN's highest level of environmental recognition recognizing exceptional figures, companies and public departments whose actions have had a transformative positive impact on the environment.

As announced on the UN official website, the program was awarded for the transformation of a once heavily polluted area of rivers and streams in East China's Zhejiang province. The website also says the exceptionally successful eco-restoration program shows the combined, transformative power of economic and environmental development.

CCICED's Solheim said today's Zhejiang is an epitome of China and even the whole world in the future.

(Executive Editor: Wenxi Yang)