Posted on 19 Nov 2010
Urban planning and construction is an important element of sustainable development. Building eco-cities as an effective approach to addressing the global environment issue, will help to promote sustainable development and to establish a harmonious relationship between man and nature. ASEM partners have gained some experience in building eco-cities, and have their own respective advantages.
At the Seventh Asia-Europe Summit held in Beijing in October 2008, China proposed the initiative of establishing a ASEM Eco-City Network with the co-sponsorship of Pakistan and the Netherlands. The objective of the ASEM Eco-City Network is to enhance the exchanges among ASEM partners on knowledge, expertise and best practices on the development of eco-cities, and encourage the international cooperation on eco-city projects and sustainable urban development.
As proposed, the Chinese Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development hosted the Launching Ceremony of the ASEM Eco-City Network on 21 September 2010 in Beijing.
Government officials from 27 ASEM partners attended the Ceremony, which started the use of this network. In the long run, the ASEM Eco-City Network will help to establish a capacity-building mechanism on eco-city development for ASEM partners, which will play an important role in facilitating relevant international cooperation.