The city of Dongying in east China's Shandong Province is shifting from chasing mere growth to balancing eco-environmental construction with economic development.

Mayor Liu Guoxin said to facilitate the strategic shift, the city will give priority to the development of non- or low-pollution-producing industries, such as electronic information, new materials, fine chemistry and bio-pharmaceuticals.

During an interview with China Daily, Liu said in the next five years, Dongying will develop more high-tech industries while protecting its environment.

"Building an ecological city requires a couple of things, like the natural environment to begin with and a shift in thinking by people and government," he said.

"Local government will brand ecological culture into people's minds, and the whole society will integrate economic, urban and environmental construction together.

"Our goal is to turn Dongying into a modern economic center of the Yellow River Delta area, as well as a pivotal ecological urban center of the Pacific Rim by 2020."

Dongying, located in the region where China's second largest river flows into the sea, is rich in land and has an array of other natural resources. The country's second largest oilfield, Shengli Oilfield, is also here.

In its 10th Five-Year Plan (2001-05), the Chinese Government outlines the development of a highly-efficient ecological economy within the delta as one of its goals.

Following its listing, the United Nations (UN) Industrial Development Organization approved Dongying as an international green industrial demonstration zone.

Though dubbed one of the country's major petroleum-related industrial cities, Dongying has received honorable environmental protection and city construction titles in recent years. The awards have covered areas such as water and soil safeguarding.

"Establishing a modern ecological city is one of our strategies for sustainable development," the mayor stressed.

(China Daily March 10, 2004)