The Administrative Committee of the Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-city signed a strategic agreement with the China Center for International Economic Exchanges (CCIEE) yesterday.

The center, founded in 2009 and hailed as China’s top think tank, is a half-official, half-civilian organization. It is headed by former Vice-Premier Zeng Peiyan and joined by some of the leading figures from Chinese politics and business.

According the agreement, the CCIEE will provide policy proposals and consultative services for the local government in terms of the eco-city’s development strategies and biological industry planning.

The CCIEE will take the eco-city as its research platform, Zheng Xinli, vice chairman of CCIEE, said.

Both sides have initiated a research project focus on industrial development planning of the eco-city and plan to set up a mechanism for regular consultation.

The Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-city is a strategic cooperation project between China and Singapore to improve the living environment and build an eco-friendly culture in the Binhai New Area following the development of the Sino-Singapore Suzhou Industrial Park.

The construction of the 30 square kilometers eco-city, the first project of its kind in the world to be developed jointly by two governments, began in July, 2008 and is expected to be completed in 10 to 15 years.

By Guo Changdong