For all the recent questions surrounding China’s Ecotowns, and the difficulties in getting the projects off the ground, the Straits Times piece S’pore, Nanjing to build eco-city shows that some are still drawn to the opportunity of getting the first eco-town off the ground.

The Nanjing authorities have reached preliminary agreements with the Singapore Government on the construction principles, concept, plan and way of operation for the eco-city, the newspaper quoted Mr Yang Zhongnan, deputy director of the Nanjing Municipal Development and Reform Commission, as saying.

It is the second announcement by the Singaporean government, Tianjin was the first, and it will be interesting to follow the progress of this part as Singapore’s past track record in China has been very good and its crown jewel is only a few hours away.