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Dalian plans a 'green' Summer Davos

By Zhu Chengpei and Zhang Xiaomin (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-09-02 10:22

Dalian is preparing to host a green Summer Davos this month in the northeastern seaport, city officials said.

The World Economic Forum Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2009, better known as Summer Davos, is scheduled Sept 10 through Sept 12.

"In recent years, Dalian has made great efforts to develop environmentally friendly sectors, including the software and outsourcing sectors, nuclear and wind power plants and LED (light emitting diode) industry, as well as energy-saving and new automobile industries," said Dai Yulin, vice mayor of the city in Liaoning province.

Dalian is one of the first 13 trial cities in China to promote energy-saving and hybrid automobiles.

The government will choose some of those new energy-saving cars to transport participants attending the Summer Davos in Dalian.

The international forum is an annual meeting that is named "Davos" after the annual winter World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Dai said more than half the 365 cars that will transport participants will be hybrid automobiles.

The air conditioning system at the forum's venue will be a product of the Dalian-based Bingshan Group, which uses environmentally friendly seawater to control indoor temperatures.

"Opportunities in a Green Economy" is one of the five major topics for the world economic meeting.

"Dalian, the host city, will be the first to benefit from the results of the meeting," Dai said.

A pre-forum meeting recently was held in Dalian to discuss green opportunities.

Wu Jianmin, former president of China Foreign Affairs University and a veteran diplomat, said that growing green economies is a global trend, and that Dalian was early to embrace that trend.

Wu said the city can attract more policy and financial support by introducing its environmentally friendly industries to decision-makers attending the forum.

Dai said the city also will benefit from the expertise that will be represented by government officials, scholars and business leaders discussing world economic trends.

The vice mayor said 67 young scientists expected to attend the forum will discuss cutting-edge technologies and theories that can benefit his city, too.