Construction of a second tree belt will start in the Chinese capital of Beijing this year as part of an afforestation program, Liu Qi, chairman of the city's Afforestation Committee, said Thursday.

The second green belt in the Chinese capital will be located between the fifth and sixth ring roads and cover a total area of 1,650 square kilometers, according to Liu, also secretary of the Beijing City Committee of the Communist Party of China.

Liu told the 22nd session on the city's Afforestation Committee that the project is a significant move in improving the city's ecology and fulfilling the commitment to hold a green Olympics in 2008.

The first green belt, located between the third and fourth ring roads with an afforested area of 102.3 square kilometers, was launched three years ago and completed at the end of last year.

(Xinhua News Agency February 13, 2003)