China, People's Republic of: Sichuan Ziyang Inclusive Green Development Project

Education / Technical and vocational education and training

Water and other urban infrastructure and services / Other urban services - Urban flood protection - Urban policy, institutional and capacity development

The proposed loan to the People's Republic of China (PRC) for the Sichuan Ziyang Inclusive Green Development Project. The project will provide strategic and comprehensive support for the Ziyang Municipal Government (ZMG) to (i) improve the urban environment and livability of Ziyang Municipality (Ziyang), and (ii) shift to high-quality economic growth on a more inclusive green development path. The project is envisaged to play a demonstrative role for medium-sized cities with similar conditions in the middle and upper reaches of the Yangtze River Economic Belt (YREB).

The project is aligned with the following impact: sustainable economic growth and environmental improvement in the YREB achieved (footnote 4). The project will have the following outcome: economic and environmental conditions in Ziyang and the SZHTDZ improved. The project will have three outputs: (i) Output 1: Ecological systems and environmental infrastructure constructed, (ii) Output 2: Facilities and programs to support the service industry broadened, and (iii) Output 3: Urban development planning and management capacity enhanced. The ZMG is the executing agency, and the SZHTDZ Administrative Committee and the Ziyang Municipal Education and Sports Bureau are the implementing agencies.

Ziyang is a typical medium-sized prefecture-level municipality in the upper reaches of the YREB, with a population of 3.6 million in 2017; average income per capita of $2,900; and a land area of 5,747 square kilometers, covering hilly terrain traditionally used for agriculture. Its center spans both sides of the Tuo River, which is a major tributary of the Yangtze River. The Sichuan Ziyang High Technology Development Zone (SZHTDZ) is centrally located in Ziyang and integrated in its urban and most economically developed area. An economy dominated by heavy industries for decades has substantially burdened the Tuo River. Ziyang's conventional industrial structure and the increasingly stricter enforcement of environmental laws and policies have led to an unstable job market that cannot meet the growing demand of the local people. The ZMG needs to do more to create more local jobs for its people. It needs support to (i) tackle the task of improving the damaged ecological environment; (ii) shift the local economy from its reliance on heavy manufacturing to a high-quality development path based on services, which can help create a reliable job market; and (iii) improve its urban development planning and management.

The project is consistent with the PRC's Thirteenth Five-Year Plan, 2016 2020 the Outline of the YREB Development Plan, 2016 2030 (footnote 4). The project is particularly aligned with the guidelines on the Yangtze River Basin's economic development issued by the State Council in 2014 to promote inclusive and green development with stricter pollution control, environmental rehabilitation and protection, and sustainable water resources management. The project will directly contribute to the national endeavor of restoring the ecological system of the Yangtze River and fostering inclusive and green development in the entire YREB. The project is consistent with ADB's country partnership strategy for the PRC, 2016 2020, particularly in promoting urban inclusive green development for small and medium-sized cities in the less-developed regions. The project is closely aligned with ADB's Strategy 2030 operational priorities of (i) making cities more livable (through integrated solutions, inclusive and participatory urban planning, and climate resilience), and (ii) addressing remaining poverty and reducing inequality (through human development and social inclusion, quality jobs, and education and training). It also draws on ADB's environmental, urban, and water operational plans.

The project design incorporates key lessons from previous ADB and development partner projects as well as international best practices and innovative approaches. These emphasize (i) the importance of regionally balanced, inclusive green development for sustainable growth; (ii) the need for innovative technology and standards to improve urban development, including sound solutions for ecosystem restoration and environmental degradation; and (iii) the need to provide effective institutional arrangements and government management systems.

Through its capacity building and state-of-the-art IT-based SMART information system, the project will enable the sharing of experiences, best practices, and innovation. The use of advanced technologies under the project's ecological renovation and environmental sustainability will showcase important elements of ADB's engagement with the PRC (e.g., regional public goods, climate change, urbanization, and regional cooperation and integration). The project features a comprehensive approach to stopping environmental degradation and improving urban livability in Ziyang through integrated solid waste and wastewater management. The project will be the first ADB initiative to transform a landfill site into a green park and introduce an M&E system to measure the progress of urban development. The experience and knowledge gained from wetland rehabilitation, landfill transformation, and sustainable city development under this project can be replicated in other cities along the Yangtze River Basin in the PRC, and also in other developing member countries in Asia and the Pacific.

Ecological systems and environmental infrastructure constructed

Facilities and programs to support the service industry broadened

Urban development planning and management capacity enhanced