The System of Property Rights of Natural Resource Assets

The system of property rights of natural resource assets is an institutional structure regarding property rights, conduct of the main parties, exercise of relevant rights, and interest relationships. Ownership and right to use are both defined. Rivers, forests, mountains, grasslands, wild lands, low beaches, and other natural ecological spaces will all be registered to confirm ownership, so that a system can be established with clearly defined property rights, clear division of rights and responsibilities, strict protection, smooth transfer of rights, and effective regulation.

The Decision of the CPC Central Committee on Major Issues Concerning Comprehensively Deepening the Reform, adopted at the third plenary session of the 18th CPC Central Committee in November 2013, announced the decision to improve the system of property rights of natural resource assets. Improving this system was placed first among the eight tasks in the overall plan to reform the system for developing an eco-civilization, issued by the central authorities in September 2015.

In April 2019, the central authorities issued another document on reforming the above system of property rights, which defined major tasks regarding unified registration, paid use of natural resources, use control of natural space, land space planning, and protection, conservation and efficient utilization of natural resources. Reform of the systems of rural collective property rights and forest rights and other systems has accelerated, with applicable experience gained in terms of institutions and standards.

The system of property rights of natural resource assets is a basic component in the entire system of institutions for building an eco-civilization. Such rights represent a form of socialist public ownership and a socialist means of income distribution, and offer a new approach to socialist macro-regulation. The reform of this system is significant in improving the socialist market economy, maintaining social stability, fairness and justice, and building a beautiful China.

自然資源資產產權制度

自然資源資產產權制度，是對自然資源資產產權主體結構、主體行為、權利指向、利益關系等的制度安排，包括自然資源資產歸誰所有（所有權）、誰可以使用（使用權）等。這一制度要求對水流、森林、山嶺、草原、荒地、灘涂等自然生態空間進行統一確權登記，做到歸屬清晰、權責明確、保護嚴格、流轉順暢、監管有效。

2013年11月，中共十八屆三中全會通過《中共中央關于全面深化改革若干重大問題的決定》，提出要健全自然資源資產產權制度。2015年9月，中共中央、國務院印發的《生態文明體制改革總體方案》，把健全自然資源資產產權制度列為生態文明體制改革八項任務之首。2019年4月，中共中央辦公廳、國務院辦公廳印發《關于統籌推進自然資源資產產權制度改革的指導意見》，明確提出自然資源資產產權制度的主要任務，在推進統一確權登記、完善有償使用、健全自然生態空間用途管制和國土空間規劃、加強自然資源保護修復與節約集約利用等方面進行了積極探索。其中，農村集體產權、林權等制度改革加快推進，形成了一系列制度方案、標準規范和試點經驗。

自然資源資產產權制度是生態文明制度體系的基礎性制度，是社會主義公有制的實現形式，豐富了社會主義收入分配的基本方式，完善了社會主義宏觀調控的手段方法。自然資源資產產權制度改革，對完善社會主義市場經濟體制、維護社會穩定和公平正義、建設美麗中國具有重要意義。