Revitalization of Northeast key task

THE NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND REFORM COMMISSION, China's top economic policy planner, said that one of its key tasks is to tailor policies to help revitalize the rust belt region of Northeast China. Guangming Daily comments:

Northeast China was the most important base for heavy industry in the country during the planned economy era from the 1950s to 1980s, chiefly because of its oil, steel and coal industries. The region has gradually declined with the depletion of its natural resources.

Worse, the private economy has not boomed as it has in many other places in China, because the lackluster business environment, which is partially attributable to the local governments bureaucratism, a legacy of the planned economy, has driven away potential investors.