Chinesepod - Major cities eye balanced growth for next 5 years

CHINA / Shanghai Prospect

Major cities eye balanced growth for next 5 years
(China Daily)
Updated: 2006-01-16 18:44

Beijing and Shanghai yesterday set ambitious and identical economic
growth targets of 9 per cent annually for the next five years while
pledging to improve the quality of life for their residents.

Beijing Mayor Wang Qishan said the highlights of the five-year plan are
the hosting of the 2008 Olympic Games as well as building a city that is
"safe, convenient and comfortable."

The Games will generate great momentum for the development of the
capital, said Wang while delivering a draft report on Beijing's 11th
Five-Year Plan (2006-10) at the annual meeting of the municipal people's
congress.

The city should grasp the opportunity to build itself into a world-class
tourism destination and international exhibition centre, he said.

By 2010, Beijing's gross domestic product (GDP) per capita will be double
the 2000 figure at about US$5,400. The GDP in 2005, which is expected to
be around 660 billion yuan (US$81.45 billion), will see an annual
increase of 9 per cent, said Wang.

But it is not just the economy which will hog the agenda. "Harmonious
development among people, resources and the environment as well economic
and social progress are crucial,'" said the mayor.

Among the key features of the plan:

Contain the permanent population within 16 million by 2010. The figure
reached 15.3 million in 2005, 1.66 million higher than five years earlier.

Accelerate the shift of economic structure and growth modes with the
development of high-end industries. For example, the proportion of modern
tertiary industry is set to reach 72 per cent of overall industrial
output.

Monopolies would be eliminated and preferential policies would be drafted
for cultural industries.

In Shanghai, Mayor Han Zheng set a target of 9 per cent annual growth for
GDP to reach 1.5 trillion yuan (US$185 billion) in 2010, up 40 per cent
from 2005.

Speaking to the municipal people's congress, he said the economic
powerhouse would complete building the infrastructure to be a global
economic, financial, trade and shipping centre in the next five years.

"Through these ambitious goals, both the city's international
competitiveness and residents' living standards will see discernible
improvement," he added.

His vision matches the city's theme for its 2010 World Expo Better City,
Better Life.

Among the key features of the work plan:

Spending on research and development will be raised to 2.8 per cent of
GDP. The figure in 2005 was around 2.3 per cent.

The contribution of the high-tech industry to rise from 58 per cent to 65
per cent of industrial output.

To spend no less than 3 per cent of GDP on the environment; and power
consumption per unit of GDP to fall by 20 per cent from the 2005 level.
Green coverage to reach 38 per cent, one percentage point higher than now.

To maintain the registered unemployment rate at around 4.5 per cent.

To reconstruct 4 million square metres of dilapidated old residential
houses.

The distance covered by the subway will see a leap from the present 153
kilometres to 400 kilometres.

Expansion on the two international airports will start this year, which
will double the city's annual passenger volume capacity to be more than
80 million.

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