Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday underscored the importance of people-centered development while carrying out extensive land greening programs.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (2nd L, front), also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, joins a voluntary tree planting activity in the eastern suburbs of Beijing, capital of China, April 2, 2018. Other Chinese leaders including Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji, Han Zheng and Wang Qishan also attended the event. [Photo/Xinhua]

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the call when joining a voluntary tree planting activity in Beijing.

Leading officials at various levels should lead other officials and the public to plant trees voluntarily and treat the ecological environment as important as their lives, Xi said.

Other Chinese leaders including Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji, Han Zheng, and Wang Qishan also attended the event held at a large green area in the eastern suburbs of Beijing.

The president carried water with some students while asking them about their studies and physical training and urging them to raise the awareness of environmental protection.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, walks with pupils after a voluntary tree planting activity in the eastern suburbs of Beijing, capital of China, April 2, 2018. Other Chinese leaders including Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji, Han Zheng and Wang Qishan also attended the event. [Photo/Xinhua]

Stating that afforestation has long been a fine tradition of the Chinese nation, Xi said that "we plant trees here to fulfill our legal duties."

Monday's tree planting event was also a concrete action in building a beautiful China, advancing ecological conservation and improving people's livelihoods, he said.

Equal importance should be given to both quality and quantity in land greening programs while taking a greening development path that is scientific, ecological, and frugal.

Xi urged leading officials to continuously expand forest areas, and improve the quality of forests and the ecological system and its stability.

They should do a good job in land greening and enrich their ways of performing duties in planting trees voluntarily, Xi said.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (C) joins a voluntary tree planting activity in the eastern suburbs of Beijing, capital of China, April 2, 2018. Other Chinese leaders including Xi Jinping, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji, Han Zheng and Wang Qishan also attended the event. [Photo/Xinhua]

Li Zhanshu (2nd L), chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, joins a voluntary tree planting activity in the eastern suburbs of Beijing, capital of China, April 2, 2018. Other Chinese leaders including Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji, Han Zheng and Wang Qishan also attended the event. [Photo/Xinhua]

Wang Yang (2nd L), chairman of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, joins a voluntary tree planting activity in the eastern suburbs of Beijing, capital of China, April 2, 2018. Other Chinese leaders including Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji, Han Zheng and Wang Qishan also attended the event. [Photo/Xinhua]

Wang Huning (3rd L), member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, joins a voluntary tree planting activity in the eastern suburbs of Beijing, capital of China, April 2, 2018. Other Chinese leaders including Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Zhao Leji, Han Zheng and Wang Qishan also attended the event. [Photo/Xinhua]

Zhao Leji (R), member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and secretary of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI), joins a voluntary tree planting activity in the eastern suburbs of Beijing, capital of China, April 2, 2018. Other Chinese leaders including Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Han Zheng and Wang Qishan also attended the event. [Photo/Xinhua]

Chinese Vice Premier Han Zheng (2nd L), also member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, joins a voluntary tree planting activity in the eastern suburbs of Beijing, capital of China, April 2, 2018. Other Chinese leaders including Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji and Wang Qishan also attended the event. [Photo/Xinhua]

Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan (2nd L) joins a voluntary tree planting activity in the eastern suburbs of Beijing, capital of China, April 2, 2018. Other Chinese leaders including Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji and Han Zheng also attended the event. [Photo/Xinhua]