Policy & RegulationAnalysis

China Publishes Standardized Textbook on Xi Jinping's Ecological Thought

A new 170,000-character volume organized by central publicity and environmental authorities cements official ecological doctrine in higher education and cadre training.

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The Brief

Chinese central authorities have published "An Introduction to Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization," a dedicated textbook compiled under the national Marxist Theoretical Research and Construction Project. Organized by the Central Publicity Department and the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, the volume spans an introduction and nine chapters totaling roughly 170,000 characters. Released through Higher Education Press and People's Publishing House, the publication is intended as a standardized teaching resource for universities and a mandatory study text for Communist Party cadres.

Why it matters

The release of this textbook formalizes the systematization and academic institutionalization of Xi Jinping's environmental doctrine. By codifying environmental policy into an official university curriculum and Party cadre study guide, Beijing establishes a unified theoretical baseline across environmental governance, academia, and administrative training systems nationwide.

China context

In China's ideological and higher education ecosystem, key textbooks compiled under the central "Marxist Theoretical Research and Construction Project" carry authoritative, binding status. They serve as the primary vehicle for the official "three entries" mandate—integrating state doctrine directly into textbooks, classrooms, and minds—ensuring bureaucratic and pedagogical alignment with leadership priorities.

Editor's View

EDITOR'S VIEW — Analysis and inference, not factual reporting. The formal codification of ecological civilization thought into a standardized academic discipline reflects Beijing's ongoing shift from reactive environmental enforcement toward institutionalized ideological orthodoxy. Framing environmental sustainability as an essential pillar of contemporary governance aligns domestic policy directives with long-term ideological legitimacy, ensuring future administrative and academic cohorts operate from a single, centrally curated theoretical playbook.

What to watch

  • Implementation notices from the Ministry of Education and universities regarding mandatory course adoptions and teaching syllabi.
  • Training rollouts and study schedules within the Ministry of Ecology and Environment and regional Party school networks.

Key Takeaways

  • 1The Central Publicity Department and Ministry of Ecology and Environment compiled a new standardized textbook on Xi Jinping's ecological governance.
  • 2Published jointly by Higher Education Press and People's Publishing House, the book totals approximately 170,000 characters across an introduction and nine chapters.
  • 3The publication is designated as a key teaching text for university majors and a compulsory reading resource for Party members and cadres.
  • 4The release falls under the central Marxist Theoretical Research and Construction Project to embed official doctrine across academic and training curricula.
Chinese state authorities have published an official textbook titled "An Introduction to Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization," formalizing the theoretical and pedagogical framework of the leadership's environmental governance doctrine, state media reported on September 7. The volume was compiled under the direct organization of the Central Publicity Department and the Ministry of Ecology and Environment as a key project of the national Marxist Theoretical Research and Construction Project. It has been jointly issued by Higher Education Press and People's Publishing House, according to Xinhua News Agency. Comprising an introduction and nine core chapters totaling approximately 170,000 Chinese characters, the book outlines the theoretical origins, systematic architecture, spiritual essence, and practical mandates of official ecological governance. State releases describe the text as an essential component of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, positioning it as an integration of fundamental Marxist tenets with China's concrete conditions and traditional culture. The textbook is explicitly designed to advance Beijing's standardized "three entries" campaign—driving official doctrine systematically into textbooks, classrooms, and minds. Official statements designate the book as a key curriculum resource for students in relevant majors across Chinese colleges and universities, as well as a primary study volume for Communist Party cadres and civil servants. Official characterizations emphasize that China's ecological construction has undergone structural and institutional transformations since the 18th Party Congress in 2012. State communications stress that the text adheres closely to primary leadership writings, prioritizes academic rigor and systemization, and provides a uniform, actionable framework for environmental policy training across administrative levels.

Sources

  1. 《习近平生态文明思想概论》出版发行 State Council of China · 9/7/2026
  2. 《习近平生态文明思想概论》出版发行 China Military Online · 9/7/2026
  3. 《习近平生态文明思想概论》出版发行 Cyberspace Administration of China · 9/7/2026