Senior offical calls for better forest development to increase farmers' income, resolve environmental problems

HANGZHOU, May 7 (Xinhua) -- A senior Chinese official has called on
forestry departments to boost the country's forest development to increase
farmers' income and cope with environmental problems.

Wang Gang, member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China
(CPC) Central Committee, made the remarks in attending an opening ceremony of
the sixth China Urban Forest Forum held Thursday in Hangzhou, capital of east
China's Zhejiang Province.

Development of forestry is a guarantee for ecological conservation, said
Wang, who is also vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese
People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).

Governments at all levels and all forestry officials should work harder to
raise the contribution ratio of forestry to the nation's economic development
and help farmers increase income, he said.

The two-day forum was co-sponsored by State Forestry Administration, the
Subcommittee of Population, Resources and Environment of the CPPCC National
Committee and Zhejiang Provincial Government. It has attracted more than 400
attendants including 89 mayors at home and abroad.