Li Keqiang plants a tree during a tree-planting activity in Daxing district in Beijing, March 30, 2022. [Photo/Xinhua]

At present, the ecological civilization in China has entered a critical period for eco-environment improvement, Xi said, calling for unswerving implementation of the new development philosophy and following the path of prioritizing ecological conservation and boosting green development.

The president called for efforts to coordinate the protection and systematic management of mountains, rivers, forests, farmlands, lakes, grasslands and sandy lands, advance scientific afforestation, increase the quantity and quality of forest and grass resources, and consolidate and enhance the carbon sink capacity of ecosystems.