Xiao Jie, deputy to the National People's Congress and mayor of Sansha, Hainan province，in Beijing on Saturday. [Photo by Wu Yan/chinadaily.com.cn]

"There were two million trees planted in Sansha last year, and I wish at least one million trees will be planted this year," Xiao Jie, deputy to the National People's Congress and mayor of Sansha, Hainan province, said on Saturday.

The ecological construction of Sansha is of great significance and benefits the Chinese nation, Xiao said in Beijing. Sansha, China's southernmost city, administers the Xisha, Zhongsha and Nansha islands and their surrounding waters in the South China Sea, covering an area of about two million square kilometers.

Sansha has always been active in ecological construction since its official establishment as a city in 2012, and its efforts were reinforced by the implement of the city's plan for ecological environmental protection in 2016.

"About 400 tons of recycled water is used to water plants every day," said Xiao, adding that the concept of resource recycling and utilization were reflected in many aspects of the city from rainwater-collecting roofs, wind and solar power lamps to battery cars and waste-made fertilizer.

To protect the environment scientifically, Sansha city invited first-class ecological environment protection experts to share their ideas before issuing any city planning, said Xiao.

The support also comes from local residents as they peacefully coexist with marine animals. "Residents have found sea turtles' life pattern. They turn off lights at a set time in order to not bother sea turtles laying eggs," said Xiao.