President Xi Jinping called for mobilizing the whole society to participate in afforestation on Monday, urging sustained efforts to build a beautiful China and contribute to Chinese modernization.

Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks while joining Beijing residents in a voluntary tree-planting activity in the capital's Changping district.

He stressed that a sound ecological environment is shared by all and requires the joint efforts of all.

This year marks the 45th anniversary of the nationwide voluntary tree-planting campaign. Xi has participated in the activity in Beijing every year since 2013.

By taking part in such activities, he encourages the whole society, especially young people, to promote ecological advancement so that China's environment improves further.

While planting saplings of different types of trees, Xi spoke with students taking part in the event and asked the children about their studies, daily lives, participation in labor and sports, and involvement in tree-planting activities.

Emphasizing that young people, like saplings, are full of vitality and hope, he encouraged them to set ambitious goals from an early age, love knowledge, labor and nature, and strive for well-rounded development with sound moral grounding, intellectual ability, physical vigor, aesthetic sensibility and work skills.

While speaking on-site to officials and members of the public, Xi noted that since the 18th CPC National Congress, China has seen sustained increases in both forest area and stock volume, as well as continuous reduction in desertified and sandy land areas. This has made it the country with the largest and fastest increase in greening in the world.

Blue skies, green lands and clear waters have become the norm, he said, adding that the recent enactment of the Ecological and Environmental Code has further solidified the legal foundation for building a beautiful China.

Noting that afforestation is a crucial task in building a beautiful China, Xi urged sustained efforts to ensure the success of this initiative, which is beneficial to the nation and its people.

This year marks the start of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) period. Xi said that under the new circumstances, advancing national land greening requires a greater focus on improving quality, fostering industry and benefiting the public.

This involves a coordinated approach to tree planting and management, allowing ecological conservation and industrial development to reinforce each other, and fostering harmony between humanity and nature, he added.

Xi called for utilizing green spaces in a coordinated manner, with planting tailored to local conditions.

Greater efforts are needed to enhance management and protection, conduct sustainable forest operations, effectively promote grassland conservation and restoration, and comprehensively improve the quality and function of forests and grasslands, he said.

He underlined the need to facilitate channels for realizing the value of ecological products, strengthen the forest and grassland industries, and simultaneously enhance both economic value and ecological benefits.

It is also essential to advance urban and rural greening and beautification in tandem and make use of every available space to increase green areas in communities, so that the public's sense of ecological well-being is enhanced, Xi said.