President Hu Jintao told all Chinese to protect the environment to help create harmony between humans and nature.

Hu made these remarks Saturday morning when he and other central leaders planted trees in the Beijing Olympic Forest Park, adjacent to the main stadium for the 2008 Olympic Games. He worked with more than two million people on the 21st Voluntary Tree-Planting Day.

Hu said the environment is fundamental to the sustainable economic and social development. Environmental protection is essential for building up and implementing the scientific concept of development, providing people with clean water, air and food, he said.

Senior central leaders Wu Bangguo, Wen Jiabao, Jia Qinglin, Zeng Qinghong, Huang Ju, Wu Guanzheng and Luo Gan worked with a group of young students.

At the end, Hu spoke with some model workers and young pioneers, encouraging them to do well in their work or study.

During the past two decades, a total of 9.39 billion people have planted 44.88 billion trees across the country, statistics show.

(Xinhua News Agency April 3, 2005)