The 2009 training course targeting administrators of national pilot areas for sustainable development was held from July 22 to July 24 in the city of Langfang, Hebei Province. The training was aimed at improving the capacity and performance of administrators by widening their ways of thinking. Over 100 persons in charge of local S&T departments and commissions from 20 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government took part in the event.

Speakers include MA Yanhe, Director-General of the Department of Social Development (DSD) of MOST, GAN Shijun, Deputy Director of Chinese Society of Sustainable Development (CSSD), LU Dadao, academician of Chinese Academy of Sciences, HE Gehua, researcher from DSD, and NIU Wenyuan, counselor from the State Council. They talked about how to improve public welling through S&T progress, the management and operation mechanism of the pilot areas, their priorities, relationship between economic development and environment change, and functional zones and regional development.