BEIJING - Hu Jintao on Thursday emphasized the importance of ecological progress and proposed to build a "beautiful" China in the country's overall development plan.

In his report to the 18th CPC National Congress, Hu said "We must give high priority to making ecological progress, work hard to build a beautiful country, and achieve lasting and sustainable development of the Chinese nation."

Hu gave ecological progress a more prominent position by incorporating it into the country's overall development plan together with economic, political, cultural and social progress.

It is believed that it is the first time that the concept of "beautiful China" has been written into the the keynote report at the five-yearly CPC National Congress.

At the 17th CPC National Congress in 2007, Hu Jintao advocated ecological progress for first time in his keynote report. The term was also translated as "conservation culture" or "ecological civilization" in China's official documents.

When listing difficulties and problems for China's development, Hu said "Unbalanced, uncoordinated and unsustainable development remains a big problem."

"Resource and environmental constraints have become more serious," he added.

To promote ecological progress, China will improve development of its geographical space, promote all-around resource conservation, intensify protection of the ecosystem and the environment and enhance system building.