Guangxi Beibu Gulf Economic Zone: Pursuing an Environment-Friendly Industrial Model

Written by Chen Libing / Translated by Xu Zhiliang

Guangxi Beibu Gulf Economic Zone: Pursuing an Environment-Friendly Industrial Model

Written by Chen Libing / Translated by Xu Zhiliang

CNPC's oil refinery located in Qinzhou Port

Beibu Gulf Economic Zone (hereinafter referred to as BGEZ), located in Guangxi, China, has always taken environmental protection as its fi rst priority while raising the level of local economic development. Up to now, the forest coverage rate of BGEZ is as high as 49.5 percent; meanwhile, some distinctive ecological species, including mangrove forest and egret, are being well protected through effective measures. “Green Development” is an approach that vividly manifests a harmony between ecological protection and economic development in the zone.

Scientif i c planning for economic development

Both China and ASEAN countries, as newly industrialized economies within the Pan-Beibu Gulf region, are confronted with common challenges posed by the sustainability of environment; therefore, the two sides are concentrating on boosting coordination and integration of economic development, social progress and environmental protection, and are striving to ensure the sustainable development of the region.

Beibu Gulf Cities Development Planning, officially approved by the State Council of China on January 20, 2017, clearly states that excellent environment constitutes the core competitiveness of cities in BGEZ; efforts should be continued to create an interactive mechanism for ecological environment; and work must be done to build livable cities embraced by beautiful sceneries and blue bay, with the focus onmaking BGEZ a forefront oriented towards ASEAN and on forming an environment-friendly industrial system. Strengthening protection of ecological environment and building beautiful Beibu Gulf have been enshrined in the development planning, which is not only a long-term resolution to BGEZ’s opening-up to ASEAN but also a consistent approach to its green development.

Furthermore, cities in BGEZ have also devised their own approaches to the balance between economic development and ecological preservation: Nanning, as a core city in BGEZ, is making its urban infrastructures tightly surrounded by rivers, mountains and forests, and is vigorously pushing ahead with pollutants discharge reduction; Beihai is building itself into the most livable “backyard” of coastal areas across the country by restoring beach, creating a 78-squaremeter urban district with the first-class air quality and tightening control over the quality of air, water and noises; Qinzhou is adopting specific measures to protect Chinese White Dolphin by designating a section of ecological coastline without any industrial projects, and is also proposing higher requirements for environmental protection when attracting investment; Fangchenggang is rendering its originally-planned logistic park an ecological zone for mangrove forest, etc.

Nowadays, the total area of mangrove forests in BGEZ has been expanded to over 7,300 hectares; the air quality has been ranking the top in the country; and the number of Chinese White Dolphins is on the rise.

Ecological industrial mode

Mr. Zhang Xiaoqin, Vice Governor of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, emphasized that we should be unremittingly committed to pursuing a scientific development of BGEZ, and should work jointly on the settlement of tough issues relating to ecological environment, so as to ensure a coordinated development of economy and natural development; we should improve the layout of industries along the coast in line with product mix and regional features and expedite the transformation and upgrading of industries; and we should also establish a sound system and strengthen regulation and supervision on industries contracted with the zone. Outdated industrial projects without being commenced, for example, are not permitted to go into operation.

Enchanting sunset clouds at Maowei Sea in Qinzhou

For the development of industries in BGEZ, all tasks should be completed on the basis of the following: proposing stricter requirements for environmental protection; introducing advanced science & technology enterprises; closing down outdated production capacity; and restricting the usage of coastline in the region. At present, various projects carried out in BGEZ have outstanding performance in pursuit of an ecological industrial model, such as the oil ref i ning base of CNPC (Guangxi Branch) and the water conservation project implemented by Beijing OriginWater Technology Co., Ltd. and Guangxi Beibu Gulf Investment Group Co., Ltd.

In the meantime, each city in BGEZ is energetically fostering and developing environmental-protection industries like marine industry, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, cartoon & animation, and clean energy, which aims not only to comply with prevailing ASEAN standards on major introduced environmentalprotection industries but also to conduct more smooth and active industry cooperation with ASEAN countries: Nanning is accelerating the building of an industrial cluster covering new-energy automobiles, bio-pharmaceuticals and electronic information; Qinzhou is striving to develop coastal tourism, marine biopharmaceuticals, maritime service and marine products deep-processing; Beihai is making itself“Beibu Gulf Silicon Valley” with the successful entry of renowned electronics enterprises including CLP Group, AOC and HKC.

BGEZ, after over a decade of persistent efforts by all parties concerned, has blazed a trail for the harmonious development of ecological protection and industrial development, and it will proceed to set up a green demonstration area for China-ASEAN cooperation as well as a new frontier for economic cooperation regionally and internationally.