Datong, Northern China's Shanxi province, is promoting regional cooperation along the Great Wall Golden Economic Zone, the shared border of Shanxi and Hebei provinces, and Inner Mongolia autonomous region.

The city government held a symposium, inviting related professionals and city governors to further discuss the details of the cooperation agreement on Aug 6.

Datong in Shanxi province, Zhangjiakou in Hebei province and the Ulanqab League in Inner Mongolia all border each other. But they share more than borders–they have similar customs and belong to the same economic, cultural and ecological belts, thus operating with the same natural resources and industries. Effective regional cooperation will be beneficial to their development culturally, economically and ecologically. This will also help integrate their economic zone into the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei economic circle.

In attendance at the symposium were professionals from the city development and reform committee, the commercial bureau, the administration of culture, education bureau, tourism bureau, environmental protection bureau, and local media outlets.

Regional cooperation between the three cities will greatly benefit Datong. The city government has created a comprehensive strategy that takes natural resources into consideration, encourages trade and protects the environment.