Shenzhen, China's pioneering city in reform and opening up in Guangdong province, was presented the City of Design award by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) yesterday.
It became the 16th member of UNESCO's Creative City Network, and the first city in China to be presented with such an award.
"Shenzhen, a city rich in innovation and originality, began its creative path 28 years ago, when China's first special economic zone was established here" Xu Zongheng, the mayor, said on Sunday.
"The design and innovation industry has become one of the four pillars of Shenzhen's economy. For example, nearly 80 percent of artificial Christmas trees sold worldwide come from Shenzhen," Xu said.
The city has more than 6,000 design companies and 60,000 designers.
The city's cultural industry added value was 46 billion yuan ($6.76 billion) last year, and accounted for 6.8 percent of its GDP, Xu said.
Zhang Xinsheng, vice-minister of education at the press conference said yesterday: "The design business has a close relationship with the added value of the city's products.
"I hope this award will help the city move from a production center to a design center as the global economic downturn presents new challenges to what has been our traditional growth pattern," Zhang said.
In September, Shenzhen devised a plan to become a national innovation city by 2015.
The plan calls for more than 5.5 percent of the GDP to be spent on scientific research.
The southern boomtown has already implemented a plan for the construction of eight industrial zones to ensure future development.
It includes innovative financing, modern logistics, information networks, service outsourcing and creative design companies.
Questions:
1. In which Chinese province is the city of Shenzhen located?
2. What award was presented to the city by UNESCO?
3. In which particular industry does Shenzhen have a good reputation for?
Answers:
1. Guangdong.
2. The City of Design award.
3. Design.
（英语点津 Helen 编辑）
Brendan joined The China Daily in 2007 as a language polisher in the Language Tips Department, where he writes a regular column for Chinese English Language learners, reads audio news for listeners and anchors the weekly video news in addition to assisting with on location stories. Elsewhere he writes Op’Ed pieces with a China focus that feature in the Daily’s Website opinion section.
He received his B.A. and Post Grad Dip from Curtin University in 1997 and his Masters in Community Development and Management from Charles Darwin University in 2003. He has taught in Japan, England, Australia and most recently China. His articles have featured in the Bangkok Post, The Taipei Times, The Asia News Network and in-flight magazines.
Brendan joined The China Daily in 2007 as a language polisher in the Language Tips Department, where he writes a regular column for Chinese English Language learners, reads audio news for listeners and anchors the weekly video news in addition to assisting with on location stories. Elsewhere he writes Op’Ed pieces with a China focus that feature in the Daily’s Website opinion section.
