SHENZHEN and the Netherlands plan to collaborate in building a low-carbon town in Pingdi, Longgang District, to promote environmental protection, according to a meeting held Sunday.

    The first phase of construction covers an area of 25 square kilometers, including Gaoqiao Industrial Park covering an area of 4 square kilometers, yesterday’s Shenzhen Economic Daily reported.

    According to an agreement signed in September, the town will become a model of low-carbon economic development.

    The national project will display the country’s development in low-carbon economy, urban construction and management, and environmental protection, building a platform for technological communication and exchange and promoting China’s cooperation with EU countries, said Shenzhen Vice Mayor Tang Jie.

    “Shenzhen is keen to become a leading city in low-carbon economy and we are looking forward to the cooperation. We hope that detailed plans for the town will be completed soon and significant progress can be made in 2012,” said Anne Luwema, consul general of the Netherlands in Guangzhou.

    Experts are invited to make the development plan of the town, and construction on the key area, Gaoqiao Industrial Park, will be started soon. A Sino-Dutch low-carbon research center and a team of exports will be established soon to work on technological cooperation, said Wang Dongze, a professor with the Shenzhen Postgraduate Institute of Harbin Institute of Technology. (Wang Yuanyuan)