President says planting trees key to protecting nature

President Xi Jinping offered a concrete example on Friday of one way to respect and protect nature: fulfill the duty to plant trees.

The president, accompanied by other leaders, attended a tree-planting activity with local residents in Jiugong township of Beijing's Daxing district.

Noting that the country's disease prevention situation is moving steadily in a positive direction and work and production are resuming gradually, Xi said planting trees is a concrete action to boost the economic and social progress and the expedited return to normal work and life.

The activity is also aimed at promoting the concept of ecological civilization with respect for nature and harmony between humans and nature, Xi said.

Since becoming general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee in late 2012, Xi has been involved in tree-planting activities each spring.

Building an ecological civilization is also highlighted as an important part of Xi's major governance philosophy of implementing the five-sphere integrated plan, along with building the economy, politics, culture and society.

The president instructed the officials to plant trees for the people and provide happiness for the people rather than pursuing rare and expensive flowers and trees in homeland greening activities.

He called on the whole nation to fulfill the duty of planting trees and protecting forests to make the country greener and more beautiful.

Through launching the campaign of greening the homeland, China has expanded its forestry resources and decreased the area of desertification over the years, which has made great contributions to dealing with climate change and promoting global ecological governance, Xi said.

He stressed the importance of upholding the concept that "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets", saying that more efforts are needed to strengthen ecological restoration and build a beautiful China.

During his recently concluded inspection tour in Zhejiang province, Xi visited a village where he put forward the concept that "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets" for the first time 15 years ago when he was the Party secretary of Zhejiang.