Adhere to “Invigorating City through Environmental Protection” to Promote Sustainable Development
by
Huang Chu-ping, Mayor of Xianning Municipal People’s Government

　　Xianning City in Hubei Province is a young and energetic city, which is located in the Southern Gate of Hubei Province and enjoys the titles of “Land of Sweet Osmanthus”, “Land of Phyllostachys Pubescens”, “Land of Cambric Grass”, “Land of Tea” and “Land of Mineral Springs”. During recent years, Xianning City has carried out the strategy of “Invigorating City Through Environmental Protection” and tried to build resource-conserving and environmental-friendly ecological city.
　　I. Taking Environment as the Primary Assignment for City Development, Create City Brand and Build New Platform for Sustainable Development
　　Starting from planning, Xianning City has constituted an integrated layout of “New Industrial City in the North, New Tourism City in the South and Commercial and Governmental Service Center in the Middle”. During scientific organization of city construction, we especially attach great importance to integrated environmental treatment in the city. We have strengthened treatment of city sewage and rubbish and are constructing wet land park in the city so as to improve the quality of urban surface water environment. 
　　II. Regarding Ecology as the Foundation of City Development, Promote Construction of Ecological Foundations to Expand New Space for Sustainable Development
　　Depending on resources advantages of “Four Lands” in Xianning City and during the period of reform of Forest Property System, we carried out the policy of “rebuild a 　　Xianning City on Hills” and promote hill resource exploitation and reform of low-output and low-efficiency forest, so as to develop high-efficient economic forests and fast-growing forests, try to establish plot base and make agriculture and forest characteristics well-known and outstanding.
　　III. Taking “Resource-conserving and Environmental Protection” as the Principle for City Development, Optimize Economic Structure and Improve New Energy for Sustainable Development in the City
　　According to the requirement of new-type industrialization, depending on existing industry, characteristics and advantages, we strength regulations of industrial structures, close some small enterprises with out-of-date technology, energy-wasting, low-quality and heavy-pollution. We adopt informatization to reform traditional industries and develop high-tech industries, clean-energy industries, such as hydroelectricity, wind-powered electricity, nuclear electricity, water energy accumulation, solar energy, bio-energy, etc, as well as new industries such as food processing, bio-pharmacy, electric information and environmental protection, etc.
　　At present and a period from now on, Xianning City will fully make use of the opportunity of “Two Style” Society construction in National Synthetical Reform Testing District, carry out the strategy of “Invigorating City through Environmental Protection”, take ecological city construction as our target, further strength and improve urban environmental treatment and provide excellent space and conditions for urban sustainable development. We hope to build our city into a Model City in National Environmental Protection and National Garden City, reach the target of ecological city construction and lay foundations of general framework for green space, so that the ratio of afforestation land will take 30% of the green space.