Hui style architecture in Hongcun village in East China's Anhui province is listed on the UNESCO World Heritage Site. [Photo/Xinhua]

In your opinion, what is sustainable development and how can one achieve sustainable development?

Development is sustainable when the natural resources are not destroyed. Development is sustainable when it is oriented towards the wellbeing of the people and future generations. The climatic change and the economical situation demonstrated errors in the system. We cannot face the global crises of applying the methods that caused it: technocracy, waste of resources, undifferentiated approach for all countries, top-down approach.

A new paradigm is required and scholars, researcher, international bodies, administrators, local activists and associations put forward various strategies: sustainable development; the green economy; a third industrial revolution based on alternative energy sources; zero emissions; zero km; the slow-economy; design for poverty; ecosystems harmonic management theories. These are all points of interest today.

We propose traditional knowledge, use its innovative underlining wisdom, and be engaged everywhere in the comprehension of the pattern of signs. We need recovery the relation between nature and culture.