Experts and scholars attending a seminar here have called for greater priority to be given to sustainability and environmental protection in urban development.
Wang Wenyuan, a vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, told the meeting on sustainable development in Taiyuan, the capital of Shanxi Province, north China, that long-term interests had to be considered when building cities.
Chen Weibang, a former technical leader of the Ministry of Construction, said that urban housing and sculpture should be designed and built to ensure quality, unique style and elegance.
Ignorance of environmental protection in some places had threatened the health of residents, said Yuan Jiazu, a professor with Beijing Forestry University. He called for greater efforts to increase public awareness of environmental protection.
During their stay, the experts and scholars visited the Fenhe River Park, a recreational project which was built with the dredging and afforesting of the river area with an investment of 590 million yuan (US$71 million).
According to Qiao Liangsheng, director of the municipal administration of urban construction of Taiyuan, the river had been badly polluted and foul smelling until the environmental project was launched two years ago.
The park project won the 2001 national and 2002 United Nations "Habitat" awards.
(Xinhua News Agency October 12, 2002)
