FUZHOU, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- The forest coverage rate of east China's Fujian Province has ranked first in the country for 40 years in a row, the provincial governor Tang Dengjie said Monday.

The province's forest coverage rate had reached 66.8 percent last year, Tang said while delivering his government work report at the annual session of the Fujian Provincial People's Congress.

Fujian has highlighted green development for decades, and its ecological environment quality has maintained a leading position in the country, he said.