The governments of both Guangdong Province and its capital city
Guangzhou have announced energy-saving targets, with robust
economic growth forecast for this year.
Vice-governor Tong Xing said at an economy work conference which
ended on Wednesday that the province aims to reduce energy
consumption for turning out one unit of gross domestic product
(GDP) by 3 percent this year the same rate as last year.
"Guangdong is economically big, but small in terms of the
resources it has. Energy-saving is especially important," Tong
said. Guangdong accounts for about one-tenth of the national
GDP.
The government is considering setting mandatory energy
consumption limits on heavy energy users such as the iron and
steel, chemicals, building materials and paper-making
industries.
The government projected growth of 15 percent in the areas of
industrial added value, retail, and investment for renovation.
Industrial added value in Guangdong rose by 18.3 percent to 975.1
billion yuan in the first 11 months last year, with retail up by a
record 15.7 percent to 829.9 billion yuan.
The latest release from Guangdong customs indicated the
province's exports rose by 26.8 percent to $301.95 billion,
accounting for 31.2 percent of the national total. Imports, up by
18.7 percent to $225.26 billion, made up 28.5 percent of the
country's total.
With a new round of rapid growth driven by heavy industries,
yearly per capita GDP in Guangdong is expected to surpass US$7,000
by 2020, taking the province to the status of countries and regions
with high income, the government envisioned.
Meanwhile, Guangzhou aims to bring energy consumption per unit
of GDP down by 4 percent this year, the same rate of last year,
said Pan Jianguo, director of the municipal development and reform
commission.
Economic growth this year was estimated at 12 percent, following
a 14.4 percent rise last year, Pan said.
Per capita GDP in Guangzhou last year was estimated to surpass
US$10,000 when GDP is divided by the registered population.
(China Daily January 12, 2007)