Pillar industries underpin economy

The steel, petrochemical and paper industries will remain as pillars of Zhanjiang's economy, said a senior government official earlier this month.

"We recorded good progress last year and will continue our efforts to foster a better production and business environment for these industries," said Huang Liping, deputy head of the Zhanjiang Development and Reform Bureau, which is the regulator of the local economy.

Total industrial output for the three industries reached 38.1 billion yuan ($5.76 billion) in the first five months of this year, up 2.8 percent from that of last year. The first five months also saw an added value of 30.87 billion yuan for the industries, up 4.1 percent year-on-year.