Chinese and Swiss scientists, entrepreneurs and government officials are discussing water management, sustainable architecture, urban mobility and air quality at the Switzerland Pavilion in a five-day seminar on "Future Cities."

The forum, which opened September 13, 2010, will have three conferences for tomorrow, Thursday and Friday. During which participants will share views on water treatment, new challenges, innovative approaches in urban development, zero-emission buildings and urban planning.

The seminar is hosted by ETH Zurich, swissnex China, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Meanwhile, the exhibition on New Monte Rosa Hut was unveiled at the pavilion yesterday and will run through September 30.

At 2,883 meters above sea level, in complete solitude, the New Monte Rosa Hut above Zermatt in Switzerland is a milestone for sustainable architecture. It can produce 90 per cent of its electricity from the sun thanks to a photovoltaic system integrated into the southern facade.

The five-story hut was designed to replace the nearby Monte Rosa mountain hut built in 1895 and can house up to 120 hikers. There is a 1:10 model and a short documentary film about the modern hut.