This spring, Chinese President Xi Jinping joined children, officials, and local residents to plant trees in Beijing. It marked the 13th consecutive year that Xi has participated in the country’s tree-planting tradition. His commitment to China’s afforestation efforts remains strong.
At the event, Xi emphasized that voluntary tree planting must continue for generations. He stated, “We must pool our strength to build a beautiful China and make the country greener through afforestation.” This reflects his ongoing focus on environmental sustainability.
Xi’s dedication has inspired Chinese citizens, both government officials and ordinary people, to support China’s afforestation efforts. This movement aligns with China’s broader green transformation and ecological conservation goals. In 1979, China designated March 12 as National Tree Planting Day, launching a nationwide tree-planting campaign in 1981. Since then, China has become a global leader in afforestation, contributing about a quarter of the world’s new green areas.
Xi has long recognized the importance of ecological health for China’s development. As a local official in Fujian Province, he visited Changting County multiple times to address soil erosion issues. Over the years, Xi has pushed for stronger land restoration efforts and afforestation initiatives, including at the Saihanba mechanized forest farm, the world’s largest artificial plantation.
Under Xi’s leadership, China’s afforestation efforts have yielded impressive results. The country now boasts a total forest area of 283.7 million hectares, with forest coverage exceeding 25% of its land area. This is a significant improvement from just 12% in the early 1980s. China also leads the world in human-made forests.
The country’s dedication to forest preservation has also brought economic benefits. Xi highlighted the importance of integrating environmental protection with economic development. China’s forestry and grassland industries generated over 10 trillion yuan in 2022, while eco-tourism grew by 9.1%.
Xi’s vision for China’s afforestation efforts continues to inspire progress. With ongoing efforts to combat desertification and increase forest and grassland resources, China is poised to continue leading global environmental conservation.
