How do we really build a low-carbon city; how do we develop green architecture; and how can we possibly hope to sustain development?

These questions and many others are exactly the sort of thing that the second China （Binhai Tianjin） International Eco-city Forum & Expo hopes to address.

This is the second year of the forum, which is held in the Binhai New Area of the municipality of Tianjin, and runs from Sept 23 to 27. Last year it attracted over 100,000 people.

Zong Guoying, head of the Tianjin Binhai New Area, has explained that this year's is bigger and better, with more high-level, instructive discussions.

"Representative of China's pilot cities for low-carbon development as well as those from advanced cities overseas will take part in a roundtable, joining academics and business people to share their views on green development," Zong said.

"There will be a parallel expo at the same time showcasing low-carbon technologies and products,"he added.

Xu Datong, head of the New Area's commerce committee said they are expecting more than 600 important guests for the forum.

"The expo covers a 37,000-square-meter area and has more than 1,300 booths all concerned with low-carbon techniques and eco-friendly cities, in the areas of green architecture, a recycling economy, and emerging industries," Xu explained.

There will also be separate meetings on government policies, new products, and green finance to bring potential buyers and sellers together and to serve the needs of exhibitors, the organizing committee said.

"The forum will bring pioneering ideas and methods, mature experience and methods, advanced technology and products, and the top people in eco-friendly urban development for a high-level green feast of ideas and practices," Zong said.

The five-day forum has a main session and six panel discussions on eco-standards, low-carbon improvements for urban planning and infrastructure, rethinking green architecture, and directions for the future.

It also comes with an annual report, details of the current low-carbon development situation in China that is expected to be instructive for future development, Zong said.

Ji Zemin, the deputy director of the commerce committee, said that seven model, low-carbon cities, including Shenzhen and Xiamen, will send delegates to explain their experiences with high-tech developments.

Ji said that everyone is welcome to visit the expo to get a feel for the future of cities.

The forum will be a permanent fixture and a place where all countries can come and exchange ideas on eco-city development.

Zong noted that Binhai still needs greater global wisdom for green development and said that the forum will help the district in its search for sustainable development and an efficient, resource-saving economy and harmony between human and nature.

This year is also the first year of China's 12th Five-Year Plan （2011-2015） and, given the effects of global climate change and the increasing number of natural disasters, low-carbon solutions for development has become a major concern of city managers. So, this year's theme is "low-carbon development and eco-cities".

Organizers of the forum and expo are the National Development and Reform Commission, Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, Tianjin municipal government, and China Center for International Economic Exchanges.