A delegation of the Pingtan Comprehensive Pilot Zone took part in the International Conference on Future of Cities, held in Japan between Oct 14 and 21, to discuss the development and trends of the world's cities.

The conference was an initiative of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), and it attracted various UN organizations and also delegations from cities in countries including the United States, Canada, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Japan.

Pingtan, an island county off the east coast of China's Fujian province, was the only Chinese city that was invited, due to its adherence to the concept of eco-friendly development, and Zhou Qingsong, deputy director of the pilot zone's management committee, delivered a speech at the conference.

Zhou discussed Pingtan's development principle that was drafted with a special focus on the island's ecological environment and low-carbon and open development. He also stressed Pingtan's goal to develop into an island for living, free trade, international tourism, as well as its aim to welcome people from across the Taiwan Straits.

Delegates at the conference praised the pilot zone's achievements since its establishment in 2009, and encouraged Pingtan authorities to make further progress in ecological planning, tree planting, green power resources, and high-end industries.

In addition, UNIDO plans to organize a visit to Pingtan in August 2014 of an expert panel on ecological cities, in order to evaluate the island county's ecological development.

Zhou and other delegates also visited Yokohama and an ecological town in Kitakyushu, with the aim of gaining a better understanding of their advanced ecological concepts and experience.

Background information

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), is a specialized agency in the United Nations system, headquartered in Vienna, Austria. The organization has 170 member states and was founded in 1966, with a primary objective to promote and accelerate the industrial development in developing countries, and help these countries implement sustainable development strategies.

UNIDO has overseas offices in 36 countries and offices for the promotion of investment and technology in 13 countries.

Edited by Niva Whyman