By Liu Mingtai (China Daily)
Updated: 2008-03-06 15:42

The city government has also reached out to create job opportunities for local residents. In the past five years, the city created a total of 470,000 new jobs.

As well, the social security system has been improved with more elderly now covered by pensions and the young supported by a free educational system. Basic medical insurance is available in both urban and rural areas.

Residents' buying power is also on the rise.

In 2007, average disposable income of each urban resident reached 12,720 yuan and rural residents hit 4,780 yuan, up 82.6 percent and 51.9 percent respectively from 2002.

Per capita floor space of urban residents was 27 sq m in 2007, increasing 5.78 sq m over 2002, while that for rural residents rose 3.9 sq m to 22.5 sq m.

A year of success

Seeing rapid growth in both urban and rural economic development, local authorities say 2007 was a year of success

Fixed-asset investment last year in Changchun's industrial projects reached 60.8 billion yuan, increasing 71.3 percent from 2002 and accounting for 45 percent all fixed-asset investment. A total of 91 large industrial projects were launched.

To attract foreign and domestic investment for its industrial development, the city organized more than 20 investment promotional events. As a result, fully realized foreign and domestic investment increased 19.1 percent in 2007 and 20 percent in 2006.

To promote construction of the new socialist countryside the city government has continued to build more rural infrastructure and enhance development of modern agricultural techniques.

Some 2,284 km of new roads were built in rural areas last year, and a new water supply network now reaches about 230,000 rural households.

Despite various natural disasters, grain output in Changchun reached 7.5 million tons last year.

The city also witnessed rapid growth in service industries.

The logistics industry generated total revenue of 53.2 billion yuan last year, growing 21 percent year-on-year. The tourism industry reported revenue of 17.8 billion yuan, increasing 20 percent from 2006.

The city also started construction of the central business district last year. New projects were also launched in the Changchun Hi-tech Development Zone, Changchun Economic and Technological Development Zone, Jingyue Tourism Development Zone and Changchun Automobile Industrial Park.

In addition, a series of expositions and festivals - including the China Changchun Northeast Asia Expo, Changchun Auto Show and Changchun Movie Festival - further promoted the city's image to the international community.

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