Across China: Shanghai

Merger of districts

China's State Council has approved the merger of the Shanghai Pudong New District with the neighboring Nanhui district, the Shanghai municipal government said.

The expanded Pudong New district will cover 1,210.41 sq kms with 2.686 million registered residents, said Chen Qiwei, a spokesman for the municipal government. The Pudong New District was established in 1990.

China is striving to build Shanghai into a major international financial center and shipping hub and Pudong has most of Shanghai's financial institutions.

(China Daily 05/18/2009 page5)