Han Ximin

SHENZHEN has set goals to catch up with the best cities in Asia, including Hong Kong, Singapore and Seoul, in three years, to become the cleanest and most ecologically sound city on the mainland.

The goals will be attained through high-level planning, promoting energy conservation, improving efficiency in land use and establishing a sound public transport system, according to a package of strategic plans revealed by the government yesterday.

The strategic plans, or the “1980 plan” in short, include one Action Plan, nine official documents and 80 projects concerning energy conservation and emissions reduction, water resource construction, waste treatment, traffic improvement and urban greenery, in an outline of the city’s blueprint to build an ecologically sound city by 2010.

At a conference yesterday, Vice Mayor Lu Ruifeng required relevant government departments to prepare and efficiently coordinate detailed plans in line with the Action Plan to put the city on a par with the world’s most advanced cities.

“Shenzhen aims to achieve parity with advanced cities, not just in terms of gross domestic product, but in many key areas from innovation to urban management, the legal system, environment and social welfare,” said Lu.

The plans are the first statement covering ecological development by a local government in China. They were unveiled one week after the visit of Guangdong Party chief Wang Yang, who called on the city to “have the courage to challenge modern world cities” and required Shenzhen to create new advantages for future development.

“Building an ecological city is a breakthrough point for us to learn and catch up with advanced cities and become a global pioneering city in sustainable development and the most beautiful and cleanest city in China,” said Lu.

The city last year sent 10 delegations comprising hundreds of officials to learn from the many different aspects of Singapore and Hong Kong in urban planning, environmental protection, housing management and traffic control. The plans were drawn up after rounds of discussions by the visiting officials who were tasked with specific research in Singapore and Hong Kong.

To realize these aims, priorities will be given to strengthening co-operation between Shenzhen and Hong Kong, according to Lu.