Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday said humankind should protect nature and preserve the environment like protecting our eyes in a bid to push for a new pattern of harmonious coexistence between man and nature, Xinhua reported.

Xi made the remarks while addressing the Leaders Summit on Climate via video link from Beijing.

"Mother nature has nourished us, and we must treat nature as our root, respect it, protect it, and follow its laws," Xi said.

Systemic spoil of nature will take away the foundation of human survival and development, and will leave us human beings like a river without a source and a tree without its roots, he said.

"We should protect nature and preserve the environment like we protect our eyes, and endeavor to foster a new relationship where man and nature can both prosper and live in harmony," Xi said.