Half of Beijing's urban area will be greened by more trees and other plants by 2008 when the Olympic summer games are to be held in the city.

City mayor Wang Qishan said at a forestry meeting that Beijing will establish three separate green belts that cover the city's surrounding shield of mountains, plain areas and the city itself.

Currently, 47.5 percent of Beijing is covered with trees and other greenery.

(CRI June 14, 2004)