国内英语新闻：China's top leaders join Olympics planting day

BEIJING, April 5 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao and other senior leaders took part in a voluntary tree planting activity at the Olympic Forest Park here on Saturday.

    China's top legislator Wu Bangguo, Premier Wen Jiabao, top political advisor Jia Qinglin, as well as Li Changchun, Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, He Guoqiang, and Zhou Yongkang also planted trees at the park next to the national stadium, the main venue of the Beijing Olympic Games.

    Covering some 680 hectares in the north of Beijing, the park is a major part of the 2008 Olympics infrastructure, which is expected to improve the city's environment and air quality.

    Hu said during the activity that the Beijing Olympics and Paralympics are approaching. He urged Beijingers to support the Green Olympics initiative and make the city greener and more beautiful before athletes from worldwide come in August.

Chinese President Hu Jintao (C) takes part in tree planting at the Olympic Forest Park in Beijing, capital of China, April 5, 2008

    Beijing's air quality has been a subject of concern among some foreign athletes planning to attend the Games. However, many have acknowledged that the city has done much to improve its air quality.

    This is the fifth time since 2001 for top leaders to take part in planting at the park, where nearly 500,000 trees have been planted.

    Hu said voluntary tree planting is an effective way to get everyone involved in improving the environment. "For every tree we plant today, we gain another spot of green in the future," he said.

    About 2 million Beijingers took part in planting activities in the capital on Saturday, which is Beijing's 24th voluntary tree planting day.