China Vows to Improve Environment through Afforestation: Premier

China Vows to Improve Environment through Afforestation: Premier

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Premier Zhu Rongji has said that China should fully mobilize its people to join the afforestation campaign "generation by generation," so as to make the country's landscape more beautiful and greener.

Zhu, who is also member of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Political Bureau, made the remark Tuesday while addressing a national conference to commend outstanding personnel and mobilize efforts toward afforestation.

In his key-note speech, the premier said afforestation is a great cause that will benefit generations to come.

Over the past two decades, China has made enormous achievements in afforestation. However, the most populous country still suffers from scarce vegetation, resulting in severe land erosion, frequent natural calamities, and expanding desertification, according to the premier.

Vice Premier Wen Jiabao also spoke at the meeting, noting that over the past 20 years, more than seven billion Chinese have participated in voluntary afforestation activities, planting more than 35 billion trees across the country.

Up to now, 12 provinces and autonomous regions have reached their goal of planting trees on the land that is suitable for afforesting, according to the vice premier.

Wen said that in the coming years, China will continue to encourage its people to join voluntary tree-planting; carry out key afforestation projects in the northern regions and on the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River; improve the quality of tree-planting efforts through scientific studies and planning; protect forests and grassland with laws; and strengthen the leadership on the issue of afforestation at all levels.

The conference was held to mark the 20th anniversary of a National People's Congress (NPC) resolution on the launching of a national afforestation campaign.

At the meeting, 283 groups and 273 individuals were rewarded for their meritorious deeds.

Also present at the conference were Buhe, a vice chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, and Zhao Nanqi, a vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.