The Shanghai Committee of Communist Party of China yesterday convened to begin discussing a major work report that maps out the city's important goals for next year and extends the current economic development through 2005.
"This meeting is of particular importance to the city's development for it follows the 16th National Congress of CPC and Shanghai's success in winning the right to host the World Expo 2010," said Shanghai Party Secretary and Mayor Chen Liangyu at the two-day conference that began yesterday.
A total of 393 high-ranking city officials attended the meeting. They will discuss the draft work report and vote to endorse it today. Also today, Chen will deliver a speech at the conclusion of the meeting to highlight next year's major tasks.
Among the key urban construction projects through 2005, the city wants to complete the Yangshan Deep-water Port; to renovate 10 million square meters of old residential areas; and to increase the number of bridges and tunnels across the Huangpu River to 13, as compared to the current eight.
The tasks will also include extensive environmental protection projects such as increasing the city's green cover from 25 to 37 percent; and to establish a trash classification system.
"Following the guidelines of the CPC central committee, next year will be critical for Shanghai to build a society in which people enjoy a fairly comfortable life," Chen said.
(eastday.com December 28, 2002)
