Chinese President Xi Jinping, together with state leaders and Communist Party of China (CPC) members, including seven members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and residents, joined a tree-planting activity at a village in Chaoyang district in Beijing, the China Daily reported.
Xi called for greater awareness and care for the environment as he highlighted the importance of ecology and protection for the environment as a factor in the country's development programs.
According to the report, the Chinese leader proceeded immediately to the tree-planting site when he arrived at the Chaoyang village where residents welcomed and met the leader.
The report said that the site of the tree-planting activity was previously a market place for agricultural products, which the Beijing municipal government had set aside and incorporated for its tree-planting plan for this year.
Xi, who planted six saplings, noted China's important contribution to the world through decades of tree-planting activities which resulted in the country "enjoying more trees, with greener mountains and land," the report added.
The president, however, said that there is still much work to be done to boost ecology and address the threatening environmental issues, with the public expecting more results concerning the environment.
Xi called on the people to help strengthen ecological restoration and protection on that historic moment. He said that forest preservation and tree planting are important ways to boost and protect the environment which would be advantageous to everyone and the whole nation.
The leader urged the people to continue to plant trees and build "a beautiful China" as he told residents that everyone plays an important role in protecting and saving the environment.