Source : Sunday Times – 29 Nov 2009
Singapore is one step closer to creating a ‘cultural eco-city’ centred on the hometowns of Confucius and Mencius, two of China’s greatest philosophers.
It will be located on a 27 sq km site in Qufu, Shandong province, close to cultural attractions such as the famed Confucius Temple – second in size only to the Forbidden City – and the birthplace of Mencius, as well as the tombs of Han Dynasty emperors.
Under a pact inked by the Singapore and Chinese authorities yesterday, the city is envisioned to feature creative industries related to design, film-making and video games. The tourism and entertainment sectors would also be developed, including theme parks and conventions on Confucian teachings.
In line with its name, the eco-city will have environmentally friendly features like energy-efficient buildings and transportation. Singapore companies will be invited to participate in the project.
Well-known Singapore architect Liu Thai Ker, director of RSP Architects Planners and Engineers, signed the agreement with the local government to start developing the masterplan for Qufu. He noted that the eco-city will be located near a station along the Beijing-Shanghai high-speed railway, which will be ready after 2013: ‘This is an opportune time…to do a proper plan for the city so that it can meet the high international standards…(and) enjoy the same kind of status as other famous cultural cities such as Athens and Jerusalem.’
The pact was signed on the sidelines of the 14th Singapore-Shandong Business Council (SSBC) meeting in Shandong’s capital city of Jinan.
Minister of State for Trade and Industry and Manpower Lee Yi Shyan, who was on the first day of a two-day trip to Shandong with a 40-strong business delegation, co-chaired the meeting with Shandong Vice-Governor Cai Limin. Mr Lee noted that Shandong is seeking more investments from Singapore in various areas, including tourism and green energy.
Singapore was the third-largest investor in Shandong last year with US$810 million (S$1.12 billion) worth of projects – an 88 per cent rise from the previous year.
Singapore is also building an eco-city in the northern port city of Tianjin. However, the one in Qufu is Singapore’s first green project with a cultural theme in China.
While Mr Liu estimated that it may take 50 to 70 years to build a Confucian-themed city of international stature, Shandong’s growing tourism and cultural sectors offer no lack of opportunities for Singapore companies. For instance, Prime International – a pig farmer turned supermarket operator – is embarking on a 2 sq km, $100 million project featuring a golf course and a winery near the Penglai economic development zone.
Two other Singapore companies sealed deals with Shandong partners yesterday: Luye Pharmaceutical will co-develop and operate a bioscience park with the Yantai authorities, while the Singapore Food Manufacturers Association will partner the Rushan foreign trade bureau in food sourcing and trade promotion.
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