HARBIN - The media tour "Harbin in the Eyes of the Asian Media" is bringing journalists from 11 Asian countries and regions to Harbin, Heilongjiang province.

The tour, running from Sept 5 to 9, explores the best path for the co-existence of the city and the ecology, and enhances mutual understanding between China and other Asian countries.

Co-organized by the Harbin city Party committee and China Daily, the interview tour invites nearly 30 journalists from 17 major Asian media that are members of the Asia News Network (ANN) from places such as Thailand, Japan and Malaysia.

ANN, the world's biggest high-end news network, was founded in March 1999 by 21 mainstream Asian newspapers from 19 countries and regions.

Since 2007, China Daily has organized the "China in the Eyes of the Asian Media", campaign for ANN, and has also arranged for the offshoot campaigns "Hangzhou in the Eyes of the Asian Media" and "Asian Games in the Eyes of the Asian Media".

Those events, successfully launched with the help of local governments, introduced the significant changes China has made.

This year's tour destination, Harbin, the provincial capital of Heilongjiang province in Northeast China, has won itself many remarkable titles such as "city of ice and capital of summer", "city of music", and "oriental Moscow", for its diverse cultures and natural scenery.

Lin Duo, mayor of Harbin, met the media group on Tuesday afternoon to discuss the present situation and future development of Harbin.

"Harbin is a place where the East meets the West, which owns a unique city planning and designing style," said Lin, who gave a detailed introduction of Harbin.

Lin stressed four major strategies for development: a new high-tech town on the northern bank of the Songhua River, setting up a new industrial town in the south, improving the environment and urban facilities within the downtown and promoting economic development of the 10 counties surrounding the city.

Lin pointed out that residents' income levels, housing and basic public facilities are the three major challenges that require long-term solutions.

Public transportation, for example, accounts for 36 percent of traffic. That number is expected to increase to 45 percent by the end of 2015 through putting more buses on the road, building more bus parking areas and stops, and constructing six subway lines.

"Harbin has entered the best time of development. The happiness index of Harbin residents will rise to a high new level when the three challenges are eliminated," Lin said.

The media group visited two wetland parks in the city on Tuesday. They will be visiting a natural wetland reserve to learn about local ecological protection systems on Wednesday.

Jeon Eunkyung, a reporter from The Aju Business, Korea, was most interested in the combined China-Russia culture of Harbin before her first visit to China.

"But when I saw the perfect combination of the tall buildings and natural wetland, I was impressed more," she said. "I think I'll make a good travel page."

In the coming days, they will also be visiting Harbin Electric Motor Co and South Harbin New Industrial Town to review the city's economic development. Scenic spots like the Central Avenue and Volga Manor will provide cultural highlights of Harbin.

China Daily

(China Daily 09/07/2011 page2)