Shenzhen plans to slow down economic growth, reduce pollution
and energy consumption, and improve public welfare in 2007, Mayor
Xu Zongheng told the city's lawmakers yesterday.
Foreign observers listen to the
government work report delivered by Mayor Xu Zongheng at the annual
meeting of the Shenzhen Municipal People's Congress yesterday.
Forty foreigners attended the meeting as observers.
In his work report delivered to deputies at the annual session
of the municipal people's congress at the Citizens' Center, Xu said
the city's GDP is expected to rise 13 percent this year, down from
15 percent last year but 5 percentage points higher than the
national growth target.
Acknowledging that Shenzhen is plagued by a number of social and
economic problems including the shortage of energy and resources,
expensive medical care, rising house prices and crime, Xu vowed to
act to solve the problems. He also pledged to upgrade the industry
structure and improve the city's environment and people's
welfare.
In his report, Xu set the goal of reducing land consumption per
10,000 yuan of GDP by 10 percent. The energy and water consumption
per 10,000 yuan of GDP is expected to decline 2.75 percent and 4
percent respectively. Sulfur dioxide emissions and chemical oxygen
demand (COD), the major air pollutants, are estimated to decline 5
percent and 1.5 percent respectively, said Xu.
"We will further raise the threshold in terms of land, market,
energy conservation and environmental protection for investing in
Shenzhen, thus forcing out serious polluters and big energy
consumers," said Xu.
He vowed to enhance social equity, enable all residents to share
the fruits of the city's development and reforms and "live a life
of dignity."
He made concrete promises on building 120 new community clinics,
improving 96 village schools, building 336 small garbage transfer
stations, developing more affordable apartments, providing medical
insurance coverage to 300,000 children, expanding the bus network
and building 100 community parks.
(Shenzhen Daily March 22, 2007)
