Chongqing strives to build brilliant future

1: Many highrises have been built in the city, whose state-of-the-art transportation network is regarded as a miracle in China. 2: A glance of the Diaojiaolou Building, or the building set up in hilly mountains. Chongqing, known as "China's Hilly City," is built on many hills and along the Yangtze River, so the Diaojiaolou Building are always located on the hilly mountains. Now the Diaojiaolou Building is hardly seen in Chongqing.

Southwest China's Chongqing Municipality has pledged to do all it can to live up to the high expectations of Chinese President Hu Jintao.

At the meeting of the Chongqing Delegation during the annual session of the National People's Congress (NPC) in March, Hu said, this year marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the municipality. After 10 years of development, Chongqing now stands at a new starting line.

The president had high praise for the city's rapid development in 2006, the first year of the 11th Five-Year Plan period (2006-10). He also lauded Chongqing's achievements over the past 10 years, and expressed the central government's trust in and satisfaction with the work of municipal government officials.

Hu also gave voice to his high hopes for Chongqing, pointing out "three development positions, one target and four major tasks for the city's future."

Chongqing should position itself as an important economic growth area for China's west, an economic center in the upstream area of the Yangtze River, and a municipality with coordinated development for both urban and suburban areas, Hu said.

The "one target" refers to Chongqing taking the lead in realizing the national target of a well-off society in an all-around way in western China.

The "four tasks" are to use industry to drive the development of a socialist countryside, transfer economic development model and speed up traditional industrial base reform, improve people's living standards, build a harmonious society and enhance the city's construction and overall management.

4. Chongqing's State-owned enterprise (SOE) Chang'an Auto has become a famous brand in China. The firm has founded a joint venture with US auto giant Ford. The reformed SOE has become a key focus of the city's economic development.

Hu's speech during the meeting indicated that the central government will attach greater importance to Chongqing in the future.

Echoing the president's remarks, the Chongqing municipal government in a local work report after the NPC, said the city will go all out to follow Hu's guidelines, despite the "arduous tasks" and "complicated difficulties (that lie) ahead".

Although Chongqing has witnessed significant achievements in the past 10 years, the city still has a long way to go to close the gap with other rapidly developing areas and provinces in China, the report said.

"This means we will take solid steps to carry out President Hu's plan," noted the report.

Urbanization accelerated

Since it is a city with large urban as well as suburban areas and populations, increasing farmers' incomes, deepening reform of the countryside and agricultural industrialization are key focuses of Chongqing's sustainable growth.

To build the brilliant future mapped out by the president, Chongqing will strengthen its support of modern agriculture, water conservation, new technology promotion and disaster prevention, the Chongqing municipal government report stated.

The municipality will also speed up the development of the service industry in a bid to help farmers increase their incomes and steadily push urbanization.

Further, the city promises to offer more job opportunities to farmers to help solve the problem of surplus workforce in the countryside.

It will beef up infrastructure construction, public service, and educational and cultural development in rural areas.

Economic development

The transfer of the economic development model and upgrade of industry structure will inject new vigor into the competitiveness of Chongqing, which is one of China's traditional industrial bases.

In a bid to develop itself into an important economic growth area for China's west, and an economic center in the upstream area of the Yangtze River, as envisaged by the president, the city will enhance the strength of its competitive industries, and speed up modern manufacture and hi-tech industries, logistics, finance and tourism sectors, the report added.

Chongqing will also focus on technological innovation and industrialization of technological achievements, and will be dedicated to utilizing the strong backup advantage provided by its universities and research institutes.

3. The landmark Egongyan Bridge is a key project of the ninth Five-Year Plan period (1996-2000). The government planned to build the bridge early in the 1950s, but plans had to be changed several times because of the unique topography. The city has made great efforts to improve its infrastructure.

It has vowed to give top priority to energy and resource conservation and promises to intensify environmental protection and pollution prevention, especially in the key river areas, securing the safety of the Yangtze River upstream area and the hinterland area of the Three Gorges.

Chongqing will strive to promote the reform of State-owned enterprises in military and machinery industries, and encourage the healthy development of private industries.

It will also strengthen cooperation with other provinces, accelerate economic partnership in the Yangtze River areas, and attract more foreign investment.

Helping laid-off workers find new jobs, supporting the less-privileged groups, optimizing the social welfare system and affordable housing system will be among the priorities of the city government.

The resettlement of people displaced during the building of the Three Gorges is another key agenda for the city, which the government has vowed to address to its best capacity.

The president had noted at the NPC that Chongqing's fast pace of development requires its local officials to maintain a "clear-minded" and hardworking traditional work style.

In response to the president's remark, Chongqing Party secretary Wang Yang said: "The city will try its utmost and not fail to live up to his expectation."

5. A view of Chongqing's old city block Ciqikou, a historical town in Chongqing. It is well known for its chinaware during the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties. 6. A glance of an advanced shopping center in Chongqing. Chongqing municipal government strives to improve the living standards of local people. Many shopping malls have been opened in the city.

(China Daily 04/27/2007 page18)