A new area to be built in the
northern part of Shenyang is expected to take a leading role in
rehabilitating the once-hardy economy of the northeast
China.
Following the State Council’s approval of the
development of Shenbei New Area on Tuesday, Chen Zhenggao,
secretary of Shenyang's Party Committee, said the new city would
return the rustbelt area of northeastern China to its former
strength.
"Shenbei New Area is meant to be an engine of growth
both for Shenyang and northeastern China as a whole," said
Chen.
Shenbei will join New Areas in Tianjin, Shanghai Pudong and Zhengzhou
Zhengdong in leading government efforts to foster development in
the country's various regions.
The northeast was for decades China's industrial
heartland, though its fortunes waned in the age of
liberalization.
The many State-owned enterprises that once dotted the
area have survived poorly in comparison with other booming coastal
regions.
Among Shenbei New Area's key tasks will be rebuilding
this industrial base, experimenting with reform and building up a
new countryside, said Li Xiangping, a researcher at the Liaoning Provincial Academy of Social
Sciences.
The former Shenyang Huishan Agricultural Development
Zone will serve as Shenbei New Area's core although it will also
cover Xinchengzi Area, Shenyang Hushitai Development Zone and Daoyi
Development Zone. The area is expected to cover more than 1,000
square kilometers.
"This is a significant step at a time when the central
government is working to rein in the country's development zones.
Like Shenzhen, we shoulder very important responsibilities in
guiding reform and opening up the country," said Wang Shiwei,
secretary of Shenbei New Area's Party Committee. "Liaoning is at
the heart of northeastern China. And Shenyang is the central part
of Liaoning Province. So this step is not just about the future of
Shenbei, but about the whole region."
Liaoning Province is
responsible for half of northeastern China's GDP and leads the
region in exports.
"We have already had a good start and are very
confident about the area's future," said Jian Biao, chief of
Shenbei New Area.
Among the industrial sectors planned for the area are
bio-pharmaceuticals and logistics. Furthermore, work is expected to
persevere in the efforts of the Shenyang Huishan Agricultural
Development Zone by emphasizing agriculture.
A source at the Shenyang statistics Bureau said
Huishan is already home to several major grain-processing and feed
centers for the dairy industry. Leading dairy companies like Meng
Niu and the Yili Dairy Group operate plants there.
Shenbei government documents show that the nation's
top grain processor, China National Cereals, Oils and Foodstuffs
Import and Export Corp, is planning to invest 1.7 billion yuan
(US$212.5 million) in a large-scale corn-processing
plant.
"This area enjoys rich grain resources, good
transportation and complete infrastructure. I could think of no
better place to do business," said Dang Zhentai, a manager of the
Wanshunda Group, which recently set up its own 1.2 billion-yuan
(US$150-million) corn-processing plant.
In addition, over 300 international companies,
including Coco Cola, Pepsi and Uni-President, have set up
processing plants in the area. Vigorous growth should ensue since
about 30 of the world's top 500 enterprises have opened branches in
the area and have invested in more than 50 projects.
(China Daily November 24,
2006)
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