Province explores new growth

A proposal for social and economic development in Jilin province for the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-20) gained approval at the 6th plenary session of the 10th Jilin Provincial Party Committee.

The two-day meeting, which started on Nov 24 in the capital Changchun, brought together 56 members and seven alternate members of the Party committee.

At the meeting, the committee put forward the goal of producing a harmonious society over the next five years and adopting reform measures to explore "new roads of development", as required by President Xi Jinping.

"During the 13th Five-Year Plan, we will continue to streamline administrations, decentralize institutes, increase government capacity to govern and stimulate markets," said Su Heng, deputy secretary -general of the Jilin government.

According to the proposal, Jilin will accelerate its industrial restructuring and promote innovation to rejuvenate old industrial bases.

The province will improve its major traditional industries such as auto, petroleum and agricultural product processing; increase growth in competitive industries such as medicine and healthcare, equipment manufacturing, construction and tourism; and pursue innovations in emerging sectors such as new energy and materials, mini satellites and unmanned aerial vehicles.

Zhao Qianghua, head of the provincial bureau of expo affairs, suggested that Jilin should borrow and learn from other provinces' innovations.

"We talk big about innovation, but have no idea what to do. So why not put ourselves in their shoes. After all, we do need something new," Zhao said.

The proposal called for Jilin to expand its advantages as an important base for commodity grains. It also promotes agricultural modernization, urbanization, ecological protection and resource utilization.

"We are pushing for greater efficiency," said Li Guoqiang, head of the provincial grain bureau.

Another priority is the promotion of an economic development zone concept called "Changjitu", which combines the city names of Changchun and Jilin, as well as Tumen River region, the Yanbian Korean autonomous prefecture.

"We are pushing forward on infrastructure construction in railways, harbors, airports and bridges. We are also working closely with neighboring cities to jointly develop the Chuangchun-Jilin-Tumen Pilot Development Zone," said Gao Yulong, Party chief of Hunchun, a county-level city at the lower reaches of the Tumen River.

One of the proposal's goals in the 13th Five-Year Plan is to raise the income of urban and rural residents to double the 2010 figures.

It pledged measures to help lift the province's remaining poor out of poverty by 2019. Jilin's poverty line by then will be 4,500 yuan ($700) of average annual net income per capita.

Its GDP was also forecast to maintain an annual growth rate of about 6.5 percent over the next five years. If so, the GDP would reach more than 1.7 trillion yuan in 2019.

"It is a very pragmatic and rational forecast with the pace of growth adjusting downward from high-speed to mid-to-high-speed over the next five years," said An Guiwu, head of the provincial development and reform commission. "It also shows our determination to rejuvenate traditional heavy industries."

Contact the writers through haonan@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 12/16/2015 page10)