BEIJING -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Friday stressed the need to firmly establish and implement the concept that "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets" and urged efforts to write a new chapter in the building of ecological civilization in the new era.

Li, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks at the opening ceremony of the National Ecology Day main event and at a symposium on putting this concept into practice.