Xinjiang should make full use of its abundant natural resources
and existing industrial foundation while escalating economic and
social development, said Zhang Qingli, deputy of the National
People's Congress (NPC), vice chairman of Xinjiang
Uygur Autonomous Region and commander-in-chief of Xinjiang
Production and Construction Corp.
At a press conference held on Sunday during a break of the
ongoing session of the 10th
National People's Congress, Zhang was asked by the press about
development in Xinjiang under the new five-year plan starting next
year.
Zhang said the regional government is considering a new type of
development for its industrialization drive.
According to Zhang, 2003 and 2004 saw Xinjiang's economic
development advancing fast. Its GDP maintained double-digit growth
for two consecutive years, fix-asset investment reached 120 billion
yuan (US$14.5 billion), while fiscal revenue and foreign trade also
registered rapid growth.
However, Zhang pointed out that compared with other provinces,
Xinjiang still has a lot of catching up to do.
"Xinjiang's past prosperity was mainly due to the development of
agriculture, including farming, forestry, animal husbandry and
fishery."
But its secondary industry and service sectors are
underdeveloped, Zhang said.
To accelerate economic development, local government has shifted
priority to high-added value production such as petrochemicals and
downstream agricultural products.
Zhang is confident of an economic take-off in the next few years.
"Xinjiang, with abundant reserves of oil, natural gas, coal and
minerals, is full of potential," he said.
Situated in the west of China, Xinjiang neighbors eight
countries. At present, 27 land ports have been established along
its 5,600 km border to exploit and encourage booming international
trade.
"To develop trade-related industries, we must transform our
ideas and integrate our management and operation with the
requirements of the market economy," Zhang said.
He made three suggestions for the further development of border
trade: develop good-quality products, make full use of foreign
resources and maintain a principle of credibility and
reciprocity.
(China.org.cn by staff reporter Tang Fuchun March 8, 2005)