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.

(Xinhua News Agency May 8, 2009)