BEIJING - President Xi Jinping on Friday pledged that China will not sacrifice the environment for temporary economic growth.

China will have to carefully balance economic development and environmental protection, Xi said, at a study session with members of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee.

"We have to understand that to protect the environment is to preserve our productivity and to improve the environment is to develop our productivity. Such concepts should be deeply rooted," Xi said.

The country will consciously promote a green, sustainable and low-carbon development pattern, he said.

"We should be fully aware of the urgency and difficulty of protecting the environment and reducing pollution as well as the significance and necessity of improving the environment," he said. "We should take the responsibility for the sake of our people and our children."

The country is committed to this cause, he added.