Six cities and one city district have joined the ranks of Nationally Designated Environmental Protection Model Cities (districts) recently, increasing the number to 47 cities and 3 city districts. Shandong province and Jiangsu province now have the Weihai model city groups, Suzhou mod el city groups and Changzhou model city groups.

　　These 47 cities and 3 city districts are Zhangjiagang, Dalian, Shenzhen, Xiamen, Weihai, Zhuhai, Yantai, Zhongshan, Kunshan, Laizhou, Rongcheng, Haikou, Shantou, Suzhou, the Dagang District of Tianjin, the Minhang District of Shanghai, Qingdao, Jiangyin, Daqing, Wendeng, Ningbo, Hangzhou, Changshu, Taicang, Zhaoyuan, Huizhou, Shaoxing, Rushan, Haimen, Changchun, Yangzhou, Jiaozhou, Wujiang, Nanjing, Dongying, Mianyang, Wuxi, Jintan, Liyang, Fuzhou, Zhenjiang, Changzhou, Shenyang, Kelamayi, Kuerle, Jiangmen, the Yubei District of Chongqing, Chengdu, Fuyang and Baoji.

　　Xie Zhenhua, Minister of the State Environmental Protection Administration, said the theme of this year's World Environment Day is "Building Green Cities and Protecting Our Home - Earth". It reflects the role and importance of city environmental protection in realizing global sustainable development.

　　Xie said during the rapid development of urbanization environmental issues should be effectively resolved through five aspects: first, through making environmental protection planning the foundation of urban economic and social development; second, through raising the level of urban environmental infrastructure; third, through coordinating urban and rural environmental protection; fourth, through implementing systematic guidance for urban environmental management; fifth, through building energy-saving and environment-friendly cities.

　　By People's Daily Online