Shizuishan, a coal city to transform

In addition to industrial transformation, we also need to transform our ecosystem.

In the past, we developed the coal industry and benefited from it but we have polluted our environment. We now have to control pollution so that we can have blue skies. The Xinghaihu Scenic Area I mentioned before used to be an area for sewage disposal. It has now turned into a very beautiful national wetland sightseeing spot and a water sports training center. Xinghaihu has played a great role in improving Shizuishan's ecosystem.

We have planted a lot of trees and grass in subsided areas, which were the result of coal mining. Each year, we spend 15 percent of added fiscal revenue on greening. The forest coverage rate has reached 12.5 percent and green coverage has hit 36 percent. The number of days when air quality reaches or even exceeds the second level within one year is 322. There are a lot of changes.

Ninety percent of water quality tests of the cross-section of Yellow River running across Shizuishan are above the third level.

These data mean that we have done a lot of work on ecological transformation and we have achieved something.

Our next task will be planting more trees, some of which are cash crops, in both urban and rural areas. We may plant more grapes at the eastside of Helan Mountain, which has good land quality and sunlight.

The wine industry will help the city transform its industrial structure and also improve the ecological system.

In addition to industrial transformation and ecological transformation, we also have plans for livelihood transformation.

There are many shanty homes and disabled people in Shizuishan due to coal mining. The city government aims to do ten things to improve the life of Shizuishan people each year. Residents will decide which things they want the government to do for them. The government asks people for advice via the media and allocates funds for these ten things.

We will do more to improve education and medical services for people, especially farmers.

We have subsidies for disabled people and people who are at or above the age of 100.

We also have special funds to help ecological immigrants who are from uninhabitable areas share the same living standards as original Shizuishan residents.