The green economy should be developed further in Liupanshui city in southwest China's Guizhou province, to solve the city's developmental dilemma, according to Li Zaiyong, deputy of NPC, on March 8.
NPC deputy and mayor of Liupanshui, Li Zaiyong, gives an interview during the two sessions on march 8. [Photo/Zhangli] |
Abundant in coal, Liupanshui is seeking alternatives to fossil fuel industries to boost its economic development.
"Green spring and floral summer, along with golden ginkgo in fall and skiing in winter, make up Liupanshui's ecological advantages," Li said.
"The merits in ecology should be transformed into economic advantages," he added.
Le also stressed that the ecology, economy and tourism must be considered while distributing the green economy action plan for Liupanshui and overcoming resource development hurdles. As a city developed from coal, Liupanshui faces the tough situation in choosing an alternative industry for future development. However, it seems the green economy may be the city's savior from its existing fossil fuel-based economy.
According to Li, the definition of 'green' for Liupanshui comes down to ecology and nature, green development, the eco-industry and green economy.
Air, water and soil have inevitably been contaminated due to the coal mining activity in Liupanshui.
It is reported that in 1990, only 7.5 percent of Liupanshui was covered in forest, posing a servere environmental problem for the government. However, the forest coverage rate has increased two percentage points annually since 1990 and reached 45.4 percent in 2014.
Guizhou's provincial government pays high attention to environment protection, on the basis of the introduction of a green action plan.
Liupanshui positively responded to the provincial policy by making its own action plan.
"The industrial transformation is based on the advantages of resources, including the land in the mountains, which should be taken full advantages of. Biodiversity in high altitudes is the source of a variety of healthy foods," said Li.
Another advantage is the favorable weather, which, at an average 15 degrees Celsius, 19.7 Celsius degree in summer and 3 Celsius degree in winter, gives Liupanshui advantages to development its climate-based economy, according to Liu.
More than 60,000 tourists from Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Thailand and other areas went to Liupanshui for skiing in January.
The maximization of ecological, economic, social and tourism value are the four key elements taken into consideration while developing an ecological industry in China.