The United Nations Environment Fund and a French environmental protection organization promised to provide financial and technical support for a project in Harbin, the capital city of Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, aiming to improve the living conditions of the local residents.
An agreement for this purpose has been signed between the two organizations and the city government.
The two organizations will provide financial and technical support valued at nearly 10 million Renminbi to help turn a residential district of 220,000 square meters with over 50 years' history into a model in environmental protection, ecological balance and energy saving.
The world-renowned architect Eric Dubosc will take charge of the design of the project.
The residential district will be equipped with advanced facilities to dispose of sewage and garbage. Besides, all the buildings will use light-weight steel instead of bricks for the framework. Thus the thickness of the walls will be reduced by 50 percent, while its capability of keeping in the warmth will be greatly improved.
"All the costs for environmental protection won't be included in the price of the house, so that the ordinary people can afford it," the officials said.
(Xinhua News Agency 07/23/2001)
