China to host first int'l expo on circular economy

<p><font face="Arial">BEIJING  -- China plans to host its first international exposition on circular economy in October in Qingdao, a coastal city in the eastern Shandong Province, organizers said here on Tuesday.</font></p><p style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><font face="Arial">Xie Zhenhua, deputy minister of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), said that the exposition would be held from October 23 to 25.</font></p><p style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><font face="Arial">As a model for economic growth, circular economy aims at environmental protection, pollution prevention and sustainable development.</font></p><p style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><font face="Arial">An important part in China's effort toward sustainable development, circular economy was officially raised as a target for China's future growth in 2004. So far, the country has introduced the circular economy on a trial basis in about 160 enterprises, cities or regions during the past years, Xie said.</font></p><p><font face="Arial">Seminars on circular economy will be held on the sidelines of the biennial exposition, said Li Zibing, president of China Association of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, which is to co-organize the exposition with the Qingdao municipal development and reform commission.</font></p></div>