FAQs  What is the concept of the Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-city? We aim to build an economically thriving, environmentally friendly, socially harmonious and resource-efficient city. The key concept underpinning the planning and development of the Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-city is the "three harmonies" - man living in harmony with man, now and for future generations; man living in harmony with economic activities; and man living in harmony with the environment.  What is the rationale for Singapore's partnership with the PRC in developing the Tianjin Eco-city? Countries all around the world are facing the challenge of sustainable development, i.e. balancing economic development with environmental protection. The PRC faces a similar challenge due to its rapid economic growth and the needs of its huge population. The Tianjin Eco-city is one way of demonstrating the determination of both countries in reconciling global climate change, strengthening environmental protection, resource and energy conservation, and building a harmonious society. Its aim is to create a model, which will benefit not only other cities in the PRC, but also other countries that are facing similar challenges. The project will also help to further broaden and deepen the PRC-Singapore partnership, and provide a new platform for engagement between the leaders, officials and businessmen of both countries.  How is the Tianjin Eco-city different from other eco-cities in China and around the world? The Tianjin Eco-city seeks to differentiate itself in several ways. Our key focus is to sustain a liveable city and find good urban solutions to deal with the challenges of high-density urban living. We want to build a practical, scalable and replicable city that will meet the needs of other fast-growing cities in China and the world. The Tianjin Eco-city adopts a holistic approach, taking into lessons learned from Singapore's own developmental experience. The approach to sustainability starts at the macro-level - comprehensive master planning integrating land use and transport planning, to ensure that those living and working in the Eco-city have a good living and working environment. Residents will also have good access to facilities like schools, socio-communal facilities, medical care, parks etc. Land use considerations are well integrated with the public transportation network to encourage more green transport and less use of private vehicles. Land use also facilitates the economic positioning of the Eco-city to ensure a vibrant economy and the creation of adequate well-paying jobs for its residents. We also seek out good urban solutions in water and waste management, and the use of renewable energy. Technologies will also be employed to make the buildings green. Apart from hardware, the software aspects are also very important. We aim to foster strong and cohesive communities within the Eco-city. Residents will also play a critical role in realizing the vision of the Eco-city, as they will need to play their part. For example, if public and green transport is to be the main modes of transportation within the Eco-city, residents will need to be prepared to walk, cycle or use public transport and forego use of the car while in the Eco-city. Residents also play an important role in waste reduction and recycling and proper waste management.  What are some of the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for the Eco-city project? The KPIs cover broad areas like air and water quality, preservation of the natural ecology and biodiversity, green space provision, green buildings, green consumption and transportation within the Eco-city, waste management and recycling, energy conservation, and adoption of renewable energy. They also cover key social aspects, like the provision of public housing and social-communal facilities to promote interaction among residents. These KPIs will help to distinguish the Tianjin Eco-city from other eco-cities, but are yet practical and achievable.  Why was Tianjin selected as the site for the Eco-city? Many factors were taken into consideration. These include the timeframe for creating a critical population mass, commercial viability, economic strengths and robustness of the candidate cities, and site-specific issues such as accessibility and ease of pollution control.  What is the timeframe for the development of the Eco-city? The groundbreaking ceremony of the project is targeted for September 2008. The start-up phase of the project (3 sq km) is expected to be complete within the next 3 to 5 years. The entire 30 sq km should be completed in 10 to 15 years' time. Upon completion, the population size has been projected to reach 350,000.  Why is there such a short timeframe for a project of such significance? The tight timeframe leading up to the groundbreaking ceremony in July 2008 demonstrates the commitment of both countries to the speedy and successful implementation of the project, as well as the confidence of both countries that this target can be met. The early completion of the Eco-city will also help to maximize its demonstrative value.