Highlights of Xi's speech at Beijing Horticultural Expo opening ceremony
Updated 21:45, 28-Apr-2019
CGTN
["china"]
The opening ceremony of the 2019 Beijing International Horticultural Expo took place in Beijing on Sunday night.
Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered a keynote speech during the ceremony.
Here are some highlights of President Xi's keynote speech:
- Construction of ecological civilization
"China's effort in building ecological civilization has moved into the fast lane. People around the world will continue to see bluer skies, greener mountains and clearer waters," Xi said.
- Balance of the Earth's ecological system
When talking about the ecological system, Xi also said that we must maintain the overall balance of the Earth's ecological system so that future generations can not only enjoy material wealth, but also look at the stars, see the green hills and smell the fragrance of flowers.
- Environmental governance system 
Xi urged to build an environmental governance system with the participation of the entire society and make eco-environmental protection a part of mainstream culture.
- Community with a shared future for humankind
"All humans live in a community with a shared future in the face of eco-environmental challenges. Only through collaboration can we effectively tackle global environmental issues and achieve the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals," Xi said.
At the end of the speech, President Xi announced the opening of the 162-day 2019 Beijing International Horticultural Expo, which is scheduled for April 29 to October 7.
About 900 delegates, including foreign leaders and special envoys from 11 countries, international exhibitors and horticulture experts, were present. 
Before the ceremony, President Xi toured the China Pavilion with leaders from other countries.
Click here for CGTN's live stream of the event.
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