Channel NewsAsia 1 Feb 08;
TANGSHAN, China: Tangshan may have lost out to Tianjin in the race to build the Sino-Singapore eco-city, but it's charging ahead with big plans.
Tangshan was a contender in the co-development bid of the eco-city with Singapore, but the coveted project eventually landed in Tianjin.
While Tangshan city may have lost a partner, it's gained many friends.
Tangshan party secretary Zhao Yong said he's still keen for Singapore to be a major player in its development.
He said: "We have many regrets that we were not selected, but we've gained much more. We have learnt many valuable experiences from Singapore, made friends and explored many opportunities for collaboration."
In the pipeline are four new cities, including two eco-cities, a new central business district, and an air-cargo city.
Mr Zhao said Tangshan is in talks with Italy, Sweden, Japan, Britain and Korea, to build one of the eco-cities in Cao Fei Dian, the site originally proposed for Singapore.
A major earthquake in 1976 devastated Tangshan and held the city's development back for as many as ten years.
The city government wants to catch up fast and is wooing investors to take advantage of its natural deep harbour and its newly discovered oil field.
Mr Zhao said he is busy courting foreign expertise - including Singapore businesses, to share their knowledge in petrochemicals, water treatment and logistics.
He is looking to Singapore to train some 1,500 officials and businessmen.
A high-level economic forum is also planned for the later half of 2008.
An agreement was signed to strengthen bilateral cooperation.
Minister of State for Education and Manpower, Gan Kim Yong, said: "As part of the framework, we'll be encouraging our private sector to take a lead in investment drive in Tangshan and Cao Fei Dian, so from that point of view, the framework offers greater flexibility and allow us to explore different ways to cooperate at different levels."
The ceremony was witnessed by Singapore’s National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan, who had just arrived from Tianjin city. -CNA/vm
