On August 29, the Shanghai Municipal government signed a co-operation agreement with the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) to build a giant botanical garden in suburban Songjiang District.
To be located in the district's Sheshan County, the park will cover an area of 202 hectares. It will serve various functions like scientific research, science education and tourism. 
The botanical garden will be a centre of research in nine areas: endangered flora protection, biological diversity in urban environments, biological resources recycling, crop-breeding, osmanthus study, plant biotechnology and phytoremediation (the treatment of environmental problems through the use of plants).
CAS Vice-President Jiang Mianheng and Shanghai Vice-Mayor Yang Xiong signed the agreement on behalf of the two parties, with Shanghai Mayor Han Zheng and CAS President Lu Yongxiang in attendance.