BEIJING -- Southwest China's Guizhou province, one of the country's less developed provinces, hopes to become "China's Switzerland" via its soaring GDP and pleasant environment.

Switzerland's experience in developing into a rich country can be applied to Guizhou's development as well, Zhang Xinsheng, general-secretary of Eco-Forum Global, said at a Friday press conference.

This year's Eco-Forum Global will convene in the provincial capital of Guiyang from July 19 to 21, according to Zhang.

"Through this forum, we can gain experience from other countries, including Switzerland, in ecological conservation and economic development," said Li Jun, deputy secretary of Guizhou's provincial Communist Party of China committee.

In recent years, the province has sped up its economic development while preserving its ecology, becoming one of the fastest-growing provinces in China.

More than 1,000 academics, statesmen and journalists will attend the forum.