On the morning of December 5th of 2008, MOST Department of Social Development organized “Inauguration Ceremony and Symposium on National Sustainable Development Demonstration Zone”. WAN Gang， Vice-Chairman of CPPCC National Committee and Minister of MOST addressed the ceremony. Vice-Minister ZHANG Laiwu announced the first 13 national sustainable development demonstration zones.

Since the pilot sustainable development project was initiated in 1986, 22 years has passed. 13 national demonstration zones for sustainable development, 50 national pilot zones, and more than 100 provincial zones were set up, covering over 87% of provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities of the nation.

The symposium also discussed further development of pilot and demonstration zones, and S&T work for social development.