This year marks the 15th anniversary of the national campaign to build forest cities.

On Nov 15, the National Forestry and Grassland Administration announced that a further 28 cities had been designated State-level Forest Cities, bringing the total to 194.

To date, 19 provinces and 387 cities have announced plans to build forest cities. Moreover, 11 provinces are planning cross-border construction programs to build forest city clusters.

"The efforts have contributed to eco-construction in the cities, which has been a driving force for sustainable development via the green economy," said Zhang Jianlong, head of the administration.

He said many cities have taken the opportunities provided by forest city construction to promote ecotourism and healthy lifestyles through improved nursing for seniors and greater participation in outdoor sports. Surveys also show that public support for the cities has remained high in recent years.

Greening more cities will be a crucial part of China's urban construction plan, with 300 State-level Forest Cities being built by 2025, according to Zhang.

He said six State-level forest city clusters and 200 State-level Forest Cities will be constructed by the end of next year.

Under the plan, the priorities on the construction list will be the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei cluster, cities along the Yangtze River, and border regions connecting countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative.

The construction of forest cities will expand green areas in those locations, improve the quality of local forest systems and strengthen protection of eco-resources by increasing investment and international cooperation.

"We should always bear in mind the principle of greening in a scientific way and choose more local plants to enhance a city's ecosystem," Zhang said, adding that to introduce foreign or rare plants without scientific consideration would be contrary to the purposes of the greening work.

He said the construction of forest cities should be conducted as part of a plan for the management of ecosystems, including mountains, forests, farmland, lakes and grassland.

"The forest cities will serve the country's aim of building a beautiful China. We will further promote high-quality construction and encourage more cities to join in the efforts, greening not only urban but also rural areas," he said.