# Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City breaks ground for Rail Line

- **Source:** Ministry of National Development
- **Published:** 2016-04-28T08:00:00.000Z
- **Author:** Ministry of National Development
- **Original:** https://www.mnd.gov.sg/newsroom/press-releases/view/sino-singapore-tianjin-eco-city-breaks-ground-for-rail-line
- **Topics:** Government & Policy, Investment & Capital Markets, Sustainability & PropTech

## Featured rationale

Improved regional connectivity could strengthen the Eco-City’s appeal to residents and businesses, supporting its growth as a sustainable satellite city.

## AI summary

The Z4 rail line broke ground to connect Tianjin Eco-City with the Beijing-Tianjin Intercity Railway Extension, Tianjin City and the wider Binhai New Area.

## Original article

Mr Lawrence Wong, Minister for National Development, co-chaired the 7th Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-city Joint Working Committee Meeting with his counterpart, Minister Chen Zhenggao of the People’s Republic of China Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development (MOHURD) in the Tianjin Eco-city today. 

Both leaders reaffirmed the Eco-city’s achievements and noted that it had developed very much in line with the urban development guidelines issued by the Chinese State Council in February this year. The Tianjin Eco-city was on track to realise its goal as the role model for sustainable development for other Chinese cities and beyond. Singapore and China reiterated their commitment to ensure the Eco-city’s continued development and success, especially as it approached the 10-year milestone in 2018. 

The meeting also discussed the development plans leading up to this milestone, which include plans for the Central District where the Sino-Singapore Friendship Garden and the Sino-Singapore Friendship Library would be located. Urban planners from the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) were working with the Eco-city Administrative Committee (ECAC) on incorporating design ideas with Singapore and Chinese characteristics into the Central District. 

After the Joint Working Committee Meeting, Minister Wong and Minister Chen witnessed the signing of several agreements including:- 

i. Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the National Parks Board (NParks) and the ECAC on developing the Sino-Singapore Friendship Garden; and 

ii. MOU between the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) and the ECAC on promoting the Eco-city’s green building standards. 

While in the Eco-city, Minister Wong also participated in the ground-breaking ceremony for the Z4 rail line that will run through the Eco-city. The Z4 rail line, which will connect to the Beijing-Tianjin Intercity Railway Extension, will link the Eco-city to Beijing, Tianjin City and the rest of the Tianjin Binhai New Area. 

In addition, Minister Wong opened the Tasty Singapore Food Product Centre, which will serve as the product showcase and distribution centre for Singapore food manufacturing companies in North China. 

Minister Wong said, “I am very excited to see the transformation of Tianjin Eco-city from a barren wasteland to what it is today. Today’s ground-breaking for the Z4 rail line is a much-awaited development. The improved rail connectivity will provide a further boost to the Eco-city’s growth. This will allow the Eco-city to become a model satellite city, serving the surrounding regions with its efficient administration, business-friendly policies and conducive living environment. It will also bring the Eco-city closer to realising its vision of being the model of sustainable development for other Chinese cities.”

Annexes

## Chinese translation

> Translation model: grok_cli

### 中新天津生态城轨道交通线路破土动工

国家发展部部长黄循财先生今日在天津生态城与中华人民共和国住房和城乡建设部部长陈政高共同主持第七次中新天津生态城联合工作委员会会议。

两位领导人重申了生态城所取得的成就，并指出其发展非常符合中国国务院今年2月发布的城市发展指导方针。天津生态城正按计划实现其成为中国其他城市及更广泛地区可持续发展典范的目标。新加坡与中国重申将确保生态城持续发展与成功，尤其是在其迈向2018年十周年里程碑之际。

会议还讨论了迈向该里程碑的发展计划，包括中央区的规划，中新友谊花园和中新友谊图书馆将坐落于此。市区重建局（URA）的城市规划师正与生态城管理委员会（ECAC）合作，将兼具新加坡与中国特色的设计理念融入中央区。

联合工作委员会会议结束后，黄循财部长与陈政高部长见证了若干协议的签署，包括：

i. 国家公园局（NParks）与生态城管理委员会关于开发中新友谊花园的谅解备忘录（MOU）；以及

ii. 建设局（BCA）与生态城管理委员会关于推广生态城绿色建筑标准的谅解备忘录。

在生态城期间，黄循财部长还参加了将贯穿生态城的Z4轨道交通线路破土动工仪式。Z4线将连接京津城际铁路延长线，把生态城与北京、天津市区及天津滨海新区其他地区相连。

此外，黄循财部长为“美味新加坡食品产品中心”揭幕，该中心将成为新加坡食品制造企业在中国北方的产品展示与分销中心。

黄循财部长表示：“我非常兴奋地看到天津生态城从一片荒地转变为今天的模样。今天Z4轨道交通线路的破土动工是期待已久的发展。轨道交通连通性的提升将进一步推动生态城的增长。这将使生态城成为示范卫星城，以高效的行政管理、有利于营商的政策和宜居的生活环境服务周边地区。这也将使生态城更接近实现其成为其他中国城市可持续发展典范的愿景。”

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