Combines at the modern production base using up-to-date cultivation methods. [Photos Provided to China Daily] |
Dongying officials are paying a lot of attention to more eco-friendly industries to make the city more competitive in developing the Yellow River Delta, according to a senior city official.
"The city is a good example of how to build an efficient and eco-friendly economy around green industrial clusters," said Zhang Qiubo, the city's Party chief.
"Dongying is the central city of the delta region and has made a real effort to improve environmental protection and develop industries that have less negative effects on the environment," Zhang said.
The city now has 20 major low energy, low emissions and high-efficiency projects in operation, and 48,267 hectares of green land, completed at a cost of 2.38 billion yuan.
It is also one of the areas with the most abundant wind, solar and geothermal resources, and has seen new energy turn into one of the fastest growing industries. It has an annual wind power installed capacity of 450,000 kilowatts.
It is also committed to developing the marine economy, with 113,333 hectare set aside for modern fishing and aquaculture.
There is a 20,000-hectare environmentally friendly demonstration area for fishing getting underway, with more than 20 types of seafood including sea cucumbers, shrimp, and crab.
The sea cucumber annual output is 1,500 kilograms per hectare, bringing in more than 225,000 yuan.
The demonstration area was given a Top-10 high-tech eco-friendly base award this year by the Shandong Science and Technology Association.
"The fishing sector has attracted a large number of investors from across the country, bringing in over 10 billion yuan in investment," said Zhang.
He predicts that the area will become China's largest seafood cultivation base, and will integrate processing, research, business transactions, and tourism.
Green agriculture is another part of sustainable development, with a 102,666-hectare area set aside for organic food.
The local authorities are still working on pollution issues and, this year, six energy-consuming, heavy polluters have been shut down, while 39 enterprises have been told to halt production immediately.
The city has 66 programs targeting industrial wastewater and gas treatment, costing more than 1.9 billion yuan.
Massive eco-agricultural demonstration area in Dongying, Shandong |