(Beijing, February 21) -- The Beijing Municipal Government has planned to plant trees on an area of 12,000 hectares in 2006 with an aim to increase the city's green coverage to 42.5 percent.

   Beijing's mayor Wang Qishan called for an all-round effort to achieve the goal, which serve as a part of the preparations for the 2008 Olympic Games.

   In a mobilization meeting on Monday, Wang noted that the afforestation of the Olympic Park, Olympic venues, roads and related facilities should be a priority of the city's undertakings this year.

   He tasked top officials of various levels of the municipality to commit themselves to afforestation and called on enterprises, institutions and all members of the society to devote their time to tree-planting.

   The forestation and beautification remains a hard work among the goals of making Beijing an environment-friendly city despite achievements in recent years, Wang said.