SINO-SINGAPORE TIANJIN ECO-CITY Second Joint Working Committee Meeting In Singapore Endorsed Draft Master Plan for Tianjin Eco-City 1 The Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-city Joint Working Committee met today (8 April 2008) in Singapore and endorsed the draft Master Plan for the Eco-city. Mr Mah Bow Tan, Singapore’s Minister for National Development, and Mr Qiu Baoxing, Vice-Minister of the Ministry of Housing and Rural-Urban Construction of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), co-chaired the meeting. Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-city Master Plan 2 The completion of the Master Plan is a key milestone in the development of the Eco-city. The Master Plan would guide the land use and development of the Eco-city site. It was jointly developed by the China Academy of Urban Planning and Design, the Tianjin Urban Planning and Design Institute, and the Singapore planning team led by the Urban Redevelopment Authority. 3 The Master Plan incorporates the best ideas from both Singapore and the PRC, reflecting our common vision of an Eco-city that is environmentally friendly, socially harmonious and economically sustainable. For example, the Master Plan proposes that the existing natural conditions of the site, such as wetlands and rivers, be preserved. With a generous amount of greenery in the plan, the quality of the environment in the Eco-city will be greatly enhanced. To ensure the vibrancy of the Eco-city and a high-quality living environment for its residents, the plan also allows for a variety of land uses, including residential, mixed, commercial and institutional uses and business park development. 4 The Eco-city will be compact, with key facilities, services and workplaces located close to the residential areas to minimize travelling by the residents. The design of an efficient and affordable public transport network has been integrated into the Master Plan. A LRT line running through the Eco-city will be the main mode of transport, supplemented by a good network of buses. There will also be extensive cycling and footpaths to encourage non-motorized transportation. 5 All buildings in the Eco-city will conform to green building standards to ensure efficient energy usage. The use of clean and renewable energy in the Eco-city will also be promoted. 6 The Joint Working Committee had endorsed the draft Master Plan of the Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-city. Further refinements will be made when the Tianjin Government releases the Master Plan for public consultation in mid-April 2008, before it is submitted for approval by the Chinese authorities. In the meantime, work has commenced on the detailed plans for the three-km2 start-up area. The detailed plans will be reviewed at the next JWC meeting to be held in Tianjin in late-May 2008. Issued by : Ministry of National Development Date : 08 April 2008 << Back