The Outline for National Eco-Environmental Protection
promulgated in 2000 by the State Council advocated the energetic
establishment of eco-provinces, eco-cities, eco-counties and
eco-townships. These eco-areas, whose objective is regional
sustainable development, should simultaneously promote economic
development, social progress and environmental protection in a
unified way. Eco-designated localities should strengthen
environmental protection and ecological construction, promote
awareness, protect and improve the environment whilst also
developing eco-industry and economy and enhancing the quality of
life. Today, trial projects are underway in eight provinces
including Hainan, Jilin, Heilongjiang, Fujian, Zhejiang, Shandong
and Anhui. Jilin has earmarked for 2001-2005 more than 38 billion
yuan on eco-industry and eco-environment construction. Heilongjiang
Province has been developing green products in line with its
resources and industry. Zhejiang Province has included
eco-construction into the work goal responsibility system for
administrative heads at all levels of governments throughout the
province.??
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The government is constantly strengthening guidance and management
over its ecological program activities and expanding trial
ecological areas. By the end of 2004, the number of examined and
approved state-level trial eco-areas totaled 166.