The Binhai forum and expo offer a tangible way for countries across the world to display their concepts in eco-city development and share their direct experiences, said participants at the expo.

It is the second time that Ron Pickering, business director, China and North Asia, ROCKWOOL, will attend.

"The Binhai eco-city forum provides the opportunity for open discussion and the exchange of ideas that will help promote the concept of responsible and sustainable development," he said.

His company makes "stone wool" produced by blowing a stream of air through molten rock.

"The expo also provides us with a great opportunity to enhance our networking with various stakeholders as well as to further build up the ROCKWOOL brand in China,"he added.

"Using the platform of the expo, we are able to work with other likeminded organizations in building up the awareness of fire safety and energy efficiency in buildings which fits in with the eco-cities concept that aims to achieve a sustainable and a higher standard in the living environment," he said.

"We are particularly interested in events that involve green building design, energy saving technology, green building material and project match-making," he said.

"By participating in those events, we hope to exchange views with officials, experts and developers on how to make our cities more energy efficient and environmentally friendly. We could also seek commercial cooperation and business opportunities in those events", he told China Daily.

The expo has seen the number of participants evolve from 45,000 in the first session to an expected 75,000 this year.

The number of their home countries and regions has grown from 21 to more than 40.

Yang Shihao, deputy chief of Tianjin Binhai New Area, said the event will help the area "enhance communication with eco-cities and experts from abroad to build a beautiful Binhai".

Shanghai's Pudong New Area will join the expo for the first time.

"We hope we can make use of this forum as an opportunity to have deep discussions with our brother cities and participants on ecological city construction, green technology and urban management innovation," said Li Chunming, deputy director general of the Pudong New Area Environmental Protection Administration.

"We also want to explore new ideas and approaches in building super-large eco-cities," he said.

Tian Bing contributed to the story.

yangfeiyue@chinadaily.com.cn

Huifeng stream in Binhai New Area. Provided to China Daily

(China Daily 09/15/2013 page8)