Tianjin's 'green city' plans taking shape

An aerial view of Tianjin. [Photo provoded to China Daily]

Tianjin took a major step in green city plans by signing agreements for 13 projects in cultural and creative industries, financial services and new energy manufacturing sectors on Tuesday.

The projects, involving a total investment of about 21.64 billion yuan ($3.46 billion), are expected to come up in the Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City, and include the deal with Chinese online search engine major Baidu Inc for the largest literary work platform in China and another for an online game operating center.

According to a memorandum of understanding signed by Tianjin Binhai New Area and Canada Natural Resources last year, the two countries will join hands to build a low carbon and ecological demonstration district in the Tianjin Eco-City, near the upcoming National Maritime Museum and the Tianjin Oceanic Administration Center, covering 2 square kilometers, and with a total investment of about 10 billion yuan.

"Better environment, low operating costs and more business cooperation opportunities will help attract an increasing number of enterprises to the Tianjin Eco-City," said Yang Liu, director of the commercial bureau of the Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City.

During the past eight years, cultural and creative industries have been the pillars for the Tianjin Eco-City, with over 500 enterprises operating here, including Huayi Brothers Media Corp and Thinkingdom Media Group Ltd. In 2014, cultural and creative companies paid taxes totaling 540 million yuan .

"We will try our best to widen the range of businesses, from publishing and film manufacturing industries to Internet-related ones," Yang said.