China has stepped up efforts to develop a green economy with several cities launching more sustainable and innovation-driven projects in recent years. Guizhou province stands out with its unique eco-agriculture and a comprehensive healthcare industry.
Green economy refers to a range of economic strategies that seek harmony between economic growth and the environment. It is low-carbon, resource efficient and an important part of eco-civilization development and also aims to create a better living environment.
The sixth Global Green Economy Prosperity Forum, which finished on June 7, was the latest event to put green economy in the spotlight. Experts and industry leaders gathered in Beijing to discuss how innovation and eco-friendly industries can drive the country's economic growth in an alternative way.
According to China's 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-15), the country has invested $468 billion in important economic sectors to develop a green economy.
In 2012, China put eco-civilization development at the top of agenda for the first time, defining it as a long-term national strategy "concerning people's benefit and the country's future".
A new environmental protection law came into effect on Jan 1, pointing out the objectives for striving for harmonious development between the economy and environmental protection for the first time.
Sha Zukang, the United Nation's former deputy secretary-general and honorary director of the International Green Economy Association, said at the forum's opening ceremony that the current Chinese economic ethos of "new normal" encourages healthier and more efficient growth. A green economy will be the backbone and lead the economic "new normal", Sha said.
Set against the backdrop of this trend, cities across the country are exploring sustainable ways to fuel social and economic growth.
Guizhou province, known for its pleasant ecological environment and abundant natural resources, has put greater stress on eco-agriculture and the healthcare industry.
Eco-agriculture, also known as eco-friendly agriculture, describes landscapes that support both agricultural production and biodiversity conservation, working together to improve the livelihoods of rural communities.
Barren mountains in Changshun county in the province's Qiannan Bouyei and Miao ethnic autonomous prefecture were transformed into an agricultural park. The park, which has a grape plantation, a fruit garden and a chicken farm, combines planting, breeding, conservation and tourism.
A number of mountains in Guizhou have been developed into eco-agricultural areas like the one in Changshun. In these areas, all agricultural activities are carried out according to local conditions with the objective of improving efficiency and resource integration.
The province is also supporting its healthcare industry. Great health refers to a range of sectors related to healthcare, including herb plantations, medical products research and development, medical equipment manufacturing, health foods and medical tourism.
Guizhou is one of the four herb plantation hubs in China and is home to 4,802 types of herbs, ranking it the second by amount in the country.
The great health industry is one of the five emerging industries in Guizhou. A modern industrial chain has been formed covering plantation, processing, R&D and retail. In the future, Guizhou plans to put greater stress on the pharmaceutical industry, healthcare and recreation, as well as health management, according to the provincial government.
The city of Pu'er, in Yunnan province, is working on the development of a State-level green economy pilot zone. The city government is also promoting a green lifestyle and production modes. The zone will accommodate a cluster of clean energy, modern forestry, eco-tourism and biology industries.
Northwest China's Gansu province is home to heavy manufacturing industries and suffers from a range of environmental issues. In recent years, local companies of the province's major industries have integrated recycling, new technologies and new materials into production processes to reduce pollution and upgrade the traditional heavy industry into a sustainable one.
