Environment ranks high on Guangxi capital's development blueprint

Nanning, the capital of the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, is improving its living conditions and international levels to attract foreign investors.

According to Chen Wu, Nanning's Party chief, the construction of modern eco-city will be a key project.

The eco-city is based on the Langdong Area, which became very busy after its development in recent years.

"The city will keep developing its south part, and will build a new Nanning in the Wuxiang New District. It's a new page in Nanning's development history," Chen said.

The Wuxiang New District, which has a total area of 175 square kilometers, is a comprehensive area with residential projects, logistics centers, as well as amusement and recreation areas. It also has cultural and sports zones, and city administrative areas. The area is expected to become a good example of a modern Chinese eco-city.

The Wuxiang New District will also be built into a regional trade base, logistics center, manufacturing base and information exchange center for the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area.

It will lead the development of Nanning as the focal point for an open economy in South China. The new district will also provide an important platform for China-ASEAN communication and cultural exchanges.

National top physical education and training research programs, sports industries and a trade center for sports goods between China and ASEAN countries are all going to settle in the district.

The headquarters of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area is also going to be built in the area, along with a residential area.

Many leading companies are established in the new district because of the improved living conditions.

For example, the headquarters of the joint project between Tsingtao Brewery and Haier in Guangxi has been set up in Wuxiang. So far, about 10 companies are expected to set up their headquarters in Wuxiang, and most of them are Fortune 500 companies.

In 2012, 154 projects are under construction in Wuxiang, while 37 more are coming later. More than 30 billion yuan ($4.7 billion) of the total 130 billion yuan figure will be invested in the district this year.

Chen, the Party chief, said that Nanning has a subtropical climate, and that environmental projects in the last eight to 10 years have made great achievements.

"We will work hard to make our city much more greener and sustainable, to keep our title of 'green city'," Chen said.

Nanning has 20 city parks and 80 greenbelts in local communities. Within 500 meters of their homes, residents are able to see green areas.

Nanning won several prizes given by environmental organizations at home and abroad. It won titles such as "national garden city", "national model green city", "national forest city", "national ecological garden city", and also the "UN Habitat Environment Prize".

Nanning's forest coverage rate is 43 percent; the green coverage and greenery rate is about 39 percent; and the per capita public green area is 12.55 square meters, which is higher than the national average. The figures underline Nanning's idea of itself as "a city in the forest and a forest in the city; where the flowers are blooming and trees are green throughout the four seasons".

Since 2006, more than 200 polluting companies have been closed. And some industries - such as sugar, tapioca starch and paper - were upgraded with environmentally friendly technologies. The companies saved energy and reduced costs, a win-win situation for businesses and the city.

Nanning is also aiming to become "China's Water City".

"Through five years of hard work, we plan to build Nanning into a green city as well as a water city with beautiful views of the Yongjiang Lake and to present historical ethnical cultures to our international visitors," said Guang Shengkun, Guangxi's Party chief.

Nanning has natural advantages to reach that goal. It has about 230 rivers nearby, with a total length of more than 4,500 kilometers.

The Nanning government has invested more than 80 billion yuan to clean and upgrade the city's water system. More residents are enjoying high quality water and beautiful views around the city.

huoyan@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 09/20/2012 page7)