This photo taken on Oct 30, 2018 shows the autumn scenery at Miyun Reservoir in Beijing, the capital city's major reserve of drinking water. (LI XIN / XINHUA)

President Xi Jinping has called for continuous efforts to preserve Miyun Reservoir, the major reserve of drinking water for Beijing, and urged officials to fully advance the building of an ecological civilization.

Xi expressed hope that those involved in preserving the reservoir will continue to do their job well and make new contributions to the building of a beautiful Beijing

Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks in his reply on Sunday to a letter from people who participated in the construction and protection of Miyun Reservoir in the northeast suburbs of Beijing. The reservoir was completed in 1960 after two years of construction.

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Xi praised the people who participated in the construction at the call of the CPC Central Committee, as well as those who have joined in preserving the reservoir over the past six decades, for their important contributions to improving the environment in the capital city.

He underlined the importance of environmental protection for the benefit of future generations. He said the reservoir was built for flood control, but it has become an invaluable asset given its pivotal role as a strategic reserve of drinking water for Beijing.

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Xi expressed hope that those involved in preserving the reservoir will continue to do their job well and make new contributions to the building of a beautiful Beijing.

Party committees and governments at various levels should fully implement the philosophy of ecological civilization and consider the practice of the philosophy as a strategic task, Xi said.