Suzhou Park: A high-tech, eco-friendly magnet

Channel NewsAsia Today Online 15 Nov 07
Suzhou Park eyes lion's share of investment flowing into China

A high-tech zone that is also environmentally friendly — this is how the Suzhou Industrial Park (SIP) is being promoted to foreign companies.

The intelligent township is a showcase of how it can also become a "green park" at the same time, said officials of the China-Singapore Suzhou Park Development.

The park also houses the Suzhou Science Hub, which Singapore's Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong opened yesterday.

Aimed at attracting a lion's share of the foreign investment coming into China, the hub occupies 4 sq km and costs close to US$229 million ($331 million) to build.

Mr Goh Tien Jin, deputy chairman of the China-Suzhou Industrial Park Development, said: "We are developing it into a high-tech living environment, taking advantage of the eco-city concept and a lot of energy-saving activities.

"But more importantly, there's also another component, and that's the residential and commercial activities. This is what we intend to auction to public developers to build based on market demand."

Although the whole project is expected to be completed in three years, the hub has already attracted six companies from the United States, China and Singapore.

Speaking during the Senior Minister's visit, Suzhou's Deputy Party Secretary Wang Jinhua said that the China-Singapore development had posted a US$28-million profit this year.

This is expected to give a boost to the planned Initial Public Offering of the SIP in mid-2009.

In his meeting with Shanghai Party Secretary Yu Zhengsheng, the Senior Minister congratulated Mr Yu on his recent appointment as a member of the Politburo of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and secretary of the CPC Hubei Provincial Committee. Mr Yu applauded Mr Goh on a great job in the SIP, saying he looked forward to greater progress there.

Mr Goh said he was amazed at the changes in Shanghai while Mr Yu expressed his interest in learning more about Singapore's shipping, financial and housing reforms.

Both men also discussed the common challenges they faced and agreed to strengthen cooperation.

SM Goh visits SIP, opens science hub
Channel NewsAsia 15 Nov 07

SUZHOU, CHINA: A high-tech zone which is also environmentally-friendly - this is how the Suzhou Industrial Park (SIP) in China is being promoted to foreign companies.

The intelligent township is a showcase of how a high-tech zone can also become a "green park" at the same time, according to the China-Singapore Suzhou Industrial Park Development Co (CSSD).

On Wednesday, Singapore's Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong visited the SIP and officiated at the opening of the Suzhou Industrial Park Science Hub, which was developed by CSSD.

Built on an extra plot of 4 square kilometres in the SIP, the science hub aims to attract a lion's share of the foreign investment coming into China.

Befitting its status as a high-tech sustainable development project, the hub - which costs close to US$230 million - boasts of environmentally-friendly features.

Goh Tien Jin, deputy chairman of China-Suzhou Industrial Park Development, said: "We develop (the science hub) into a high-tech living environment, take advantage of the eco-city concept... a lot of energy-saving activities... but more importantly there's also another component and that's the residential and commercial activities... we intend to auction (the space at the hub) to the public developers."

Although the whole project is expected to be completed in three years, the science hub has already attracted six companies from the US, China and Singapore to set up shop.

Mr Goh was also given a tour of a new exhibition displaying SIP's energy-saving methods. The emitting intensity of the zone accounts for only one twentieth of the average national level.

Speaking at the visit, Suzhou's deputy party secretary, Wang Jinhua, also announced that the CSSD has posted profits of US$28 million this year. This is expected to give a boost to the planned initial public offer of the SIP in mid-2009.

Mr Goh also visited Shanghai, where he met Shanghai Party Secretary Yu Zhengsheng. Mr Goh congratulated Mr Yu on his recent appointment during the 17th Party Congress.

Mr Yu, in turn, applauded Mr Goh on a great job done in the SIP and said that he looked forward to new progress there.

Mr Goh said he was amazed at the changes in Shanghai, while Mr Yu expressed his interest in learning more about Singapore's shipping, financial and housing reforms.

Both men also discussed the common challenges faced by Singapore and Shanghai and agreed to strengthen cooperation. - CNA/ir

Wen visit could result in eco-city pact
Clarissa Oon, Straits Times 15 Nov 07

BEIJING - SINGAPORE and China will finalise an agreement on the 'eco-city' project when Premier Wen Jiabao visits Singapore this weekend.

A Chinese Foreign Ministry official said yesterday that 'several agreements' will be inked between the two sides during Mr Wen's state visit, and The Straits Times understands that they are linked to the much-anticipated project.

When asked what agreements would be signed and if the 'eco-city' project was among them, China's Assistant Foreign Minister He Yafei did not give many details, but hinted at a pact on the project by describing it as a 'new beacon of cooperation between the two countries'.

During a briefing on Premier Wen's visit, Mr He further hinted at the imminent agreement when he said that Singapore has 'a lot of good experiences we can draw lessons from' in sustainable development and environmental protection.

He added that 'prospects are bright for cooperation in this area'.

The 'eco-city' project, which aims to combine economic growth with environmental protection, was first broached at a meeting between Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong and Mr Wen in Beijing in April this year.

It is seen as a model to help China balance rapid economic growth with sustainable development.

After seven months of study, the 'eco-city' site has been narrowed down to either the northern port city of Tianjin or Tangshan city in northern Hebei province, Mr Goh, who was visiting China this week, told reporters on Tuesday.

Yesterday, Mr He also said that during Mr Wen's visit, both countries hope to 'strengthen friendly cooperation in all areas, have a deep exchange of views, take friendship to a new level and realise mutual benefit'.

Mr Wen will hold talks with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong during his two-day visit - the first by a Chinese premier to Singapore in eight years - which begins on Sunday.

Mr Wen will also meet President S R Nathan, Mr Goh and Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew. He will also give a speech at the National University of Singapore.

Apart from bilateral matters, he will also discuss regional and international issues of common interest with Singapore leaders.

Following his state visit, Mr Wen will attend a series of high-level regional summits hosted by Singapore, including the 11th Asean Plus Three Summit next Tuesday.

The political turmoil in Myanmar, an Asean member country that is close to China, is expected to be discussed at bilateral talks and at regional meetings related to the 13th Asean Summit.

This year's summit marks the 40th anniversary of the the founding of Asean. China, Japan and South Korea have regular exchanges with Asean under the Asean Plus Three framework.