JUN 06, 2002

BEIJING - China's industrial boomtown of Shenzhen has been honoured by the United Nations for its efforts in defending its environment.

Its skyline dotted with high-rise buildings, Shenzhen has managed to cover 45 per cent of its urban districts with greenery and is now upheld as a fine example of eco-friendly economic development.

The city, located in southern China's Guangdong province, was added to the UN Environment Programme's (UNEP) Global 500 Roll of Honour for Environmental Achievement on Tuesday.

The honour was bestowed in conjunction with UNEP's celebration of the 30th World Environment Day in Shenzhen, the China Daily reported.

It is considered one of the world's most prestigious international environmental honours.

Another name added this year is Aohanqi, a county in China's desert-enshrouded Inner Mongolia region.

It is only the second time Chinese cities have made it onto the roll since its inception in 1987.

UNEP executive director Klaus Toepfer said Shenzhen had been chosen because of its efforts to harmonise economic development and environmental protection.

Shenzhen is planning further improvements by spending 60 million yuan (S$13 million) to plant trees and other greenery on barren sites, a report yesterday on the sina.com website quoted the city's officials as saying.

Aohanqi has been recognised for its achievements in fighting the encroachment of the desert into its suburbs during the past 30 years.

It had undertaken large-scale environmental projects since then and succeeded in checking the menace, Xinhua said.

Forest coverage in the county has reached 43.5 per cent, while shifting sand dunes have been reduced to 6,000 ha from 38,000 ha 30 years ago.

'The achievements of these two places epitomise China's intensive efforts over recent decades in improving the environment,' said the director of China's State Environmental Protection Administration, Mr Xie Zhenhua. --AFP

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