Heilongjiang holds growth target

HARBIN: Thanks to its low reliance on the export trade, Heilongjiang province could still record a decent economic growth this year despite the global financial crisis, a top official said.

"The majority of the province's economy has been left unscathed during the crisis," assured Governor Li Zhanshu at the local people's congress, which ended at the weekend. "The momentum of its development will not slow down this year," he said.

And despite its growth target for 2009 being set at 11 percent, the same as last year, Li warned that the province faces a tough challenge to fulfill the target amid the deepening crisis.