Construction of the transport infrastructure within the 4-sq-km Sino-Singaporean Eco-city start-up area of Tianjin has begun, a local official said yesterday.

Construction of the 30-sq-km city will start next month, Gou Lijun, director of the Tianjin Binhai New Area administrative committee said at a press conference held at the Beijing International Media Center.

In April, the Chinese and Singaporean governments approved a development plan for the eco-city. It will be the second flagship Sino-Singaporean cooperation project since the Suzhou Industrial Park and will draw on Singapore's eco-conservation experience in regard to efficient energy use and environmental protection.