国内英语新闻:Senior Chinese leader asks Shanghai to upgrade growth pattern

He was upbeat about technological innovation adopted in the building of a bridge-tunnel project linking Shanghai with Chongming Island, China's third largest island located in the estuary of the Yangtze River.

The 25.5-kilometer project, including a 8.9-kilometer tunnel that boasts the world's largest diameter of its kind, and a 16.6-kilometer bridge, was open to traffic in October last year.

Jia Qinglin (C), chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, inspects Dongtan National Birds Nature Reserve in Shanghai municipality of east China, Jan. 22, 2010.

Jia said the project well demonstrated how self-developed technology had been used to boost economic growth and social development.

In a visit to a bird sanctuary and a national forest park on Chongming Island, Jia also stressed the importance of sustainable development through more tree-planting efforts, resource and energy saving, and the development of low-carbon economy.

Jia Qinglin (2nd L), chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, inspects Changxing base of Jiangnan Shipyard Corp., in Shanghai municipality of east China, Jan. 22, 2010