(From Page 1)Jiang Zhenghua, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress noted that 47 percent of the world population lived in cities. That number would increase by two percent a year over 15 years, he said.He referred to China’s rapid urbanization since 1978. “Cities constitute the core issue of sustainable development. When all people on earth have a consensus on the principles and approaches of building eco-cities, we are on the way to realizing sustainable development for mankind,” Jiang said.Richard Register, president of Eco-city Builders International, introduced the 400 delegates to the global campaigns of eco-city building. Li Wenhua, president of the Ecological Society of China, told the conference about China’s practice in eco-city building and the direction the country would go in the ecological area.The conference will draw up a “Shenzhen Manifesto,” which will serve as a guide for sustainable urban development worldwide.