Underlining the importance of greening the capital city for its
modernization, Beijing mayor Wang Qishan called for more efforts in
this direction on Monday.
The present greening campaign is an integral part of the city's
modernization and plays a crucial role in the harmonious
development of population, resources and environment, Wang told a
meeting to review last year's work and draw up plans for the new
year.
More efforts should be made to green and beautify the city in
2007, the decisive year for the preparation of the 2008 Olympic
Games, the mayor added. He urged competent departments to
concentrate on the city's key areas and the creation of a so-called
"eco-screen" in Beijing's mountainous suburbs.
According to the Office of the Capital Afforestation Committee,
in 2006 Beijing greened 12,000 hectares of land, planting over
27.84 million trees. By the end of 2006, the forest cover in the
Beijing area stood at 51 percent, the urban tree cover at 42.5
percent, and urban green land per capita at 47 square meters.
(BOCOG February 27, 2007)
