Special Supplement: Environment on top of developmental agenda
Located in the southeast of the city, Wuxi New District has a resident population of nearly 500,000 and an area of 220 sq km.
In terms of comprehensive strength and innovation capability, the zone is among the best of the 55 national level hi-tech industrial zones in China.
While seeking rapid economic growth, Wuxi New District also attaches great importance to environmental protection by adhering to the principle of "developing the economy, pushing urbanization and protecting the environment at the same time".
More than 2 billion yuan ($260 million) have been invested in the construction of infrastructure for environmental protection. The environmental quality has been maintained at a high level.
In 2006, the comprehensive energy consumption per 10,000-yuan GDP was 0.47 ton standard coal and the COD exhaustion volume per 10,000-yuan industrial added value was 0.65kg, much better than the national standard.
And 2006 was the first year of examining the task of saving energy and reducing exhaustion, in which the New District reduced 407.3 tons of COD and 668 tons of SO2.
The main aim of the measures taken by the New District is to ensure smooth and rapid economic growth by developing an advanced production capability, with an emphasis on improved resource-using efficiency and saving land, energy, water, as well as developing a circular economy.
First, the Wuxi New District optimized its industrial structure. In its initial developmental period, the district substantially developed the manufacturing industry. Currently, it lays emphasis on the development of both the advanced manufacturing and modern service industries.
Second, environmental protection is a top priority in the development policy of the district. In 2006, many policies were formulated and adopted by the New District to guarantee environmental protection. Some projects that were likely to cause pollution were forbidden to enter the New District. The district administration also placed great emphasis on officials' endeavors to save energy and reduce exhaustion while it evaluated their performance.
Third, advanced technology has been introduced to develop circular economy. The New District has been transformed according to ecological principles. For the enterprises, green production technology is a strict requirement, to ensure energy conservation and exhaustion reduction.
Different enterprises in the district have become interdependent in manufacturing products according to eco-friendly principles.
As for society at large, everybody is involved in creating a green New District. Activities like green school, green community, green homes, green hotels and restaurants are being actively carried out to create a suitable atmosphere for environmental protection by all.
Fourth, the district promotes energy-saving technology by encouraging innovation. Most of the enterprises have adopted new technology to transform the traditional equipment and production mode for the purposes of saving energy, which has also contributed to good economic efficiency.
Fifth, the government plays an exemplary role in environmental protection, and has made huge investments in the construction of environmental infrastructure so as to set an example in saving energy and reducing exhaustion.
Sixth, various forms of publicity work encouraging citizens to save energy and reduce exhaustion has been launched in the district in order to increase people's awareness regarding environmental protection, and create a favorable atmosphere for the same.
(China Daily 09/05/2007 page4)
