Top Chinese leaders Jiang Zemin, Zhu Rongji, Li Ruihuan, Hu Jintao, Wei Jianxing and Li Lanqing planted trees in a local park Saturday, to mark the city's 18th Volunteer Tree-Planting Day.
Some two million local people joined tree-planting activities the same day, as part of the city's afforestation program following its winning of the bid to host the 2008 Olympic Games.
The leaders planted trees in Chaolai Forest Park, together with local officials and young students.
It is the 13th time that President Jiang Zemin has planted trees in the capital. While talking to the students, the president called for planting trees generation after generation, so as to afforest the country and benefit posterity.
Official statistics show that since the first volunteer tree-planting day was marked, seven billion people have joined the program, and planted a total of 37 billion trees.
Before planting the trees, the top leaders heard a report on the city's afforestation work by Mayor Liu Qi.
(Xinhua News Agency April 6, 202)
