Shanghai Party Secretary: Build Chongming into a global eco-island
Shanghai Party Secretary Li Qiang visits Sanxing Town in Chongming Island yesterday.
Shanghai will give top priority to restoring and protecting the eco-system of Chongming Island as part of the city’s efforts to make it a leading global eco-island, Shanghai Party Secretary Li Qiang said.
“If we hope to gauge the ecological environment, we should see where birds fly and fish swim,” Li said during an inspection tour to the island on Thursday. He highlighted the importance of ensuring biodiversity in Chongming, where the Yangtze River drains to the East China Sea.
Li added that high-tech methods should be leveraged to bolster the development of the island’s eco-system, and people should work together to create and maintain the green environment so as to jointly enjoy more benefits.
In 2016, Shanghai announced the “13th Five-Year Plan (2016-20) for Development of Chongming World-Class Eco-Island.” By 2020, Chongming will be an island featuring “green development, culture, intelligence and sustainability,” according to the plan.
Organic farming in Chongming produces and provides fruit and vegetables throughout Shanghai. Natural wetlands, clean waterways and fresh air have made the island an excellent getaway spot for those seeking a respite from the urban hubbub.
