Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear Media Friends,

I feel very delighted to meet you, my media friends. First of all, I'd like to welcome both domestic and foreign media friends present at today's press conference and I'd like to thank you for your long-term interests in and support on Guangxi.

I'd like to take this opportunity to brief you on the development of Guangxi in the past 50 years.

I Great achievements in the economic and social development in the past 50 years

Guangxi is one of the five ethnic autonomous regions in China which enjoys the largest population among these five regions. 12 ethnic groups, such as Zhuang, Han, Yao, Miao are living in Guangxi for generations. The total population in Guangxi by the end of 2007 was 50.02million, 32.85％ of which are Zhuang ethnic minority.

Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region was founded in 1958, reflecting that the socialist ethnic relations in Guangxi, featured by equality, harmony, solidarity and mutual assistance has entered a new historical stage under the leadership of CPC.

In the past 50 years, under the correct leadership of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council and with the support of CPC's ethnic policies, people in Guangxi have worked hard to make great achievements in the economic and social development and create a new pattern in the reform, opening up and modernization drive. The past 50 years has witnessed the comprehensive progress in economy, politics, culture and social undertakings. The past 50 years has reflected the hard work of Guangxi people towards common prosperity and marked the great success of the system of regional ethnic autonomy. Currently, Guangxi is enjoying rapid economic development, overall social progress, ethnic solidarity and peaceful border, where its people are enjoying their work and life.

First, economy has maintained rapid and sustained development. GDP in Guangxi reached 595.565billion RMB in 2007, an increase of 42 times than that of 1958, or an average annual increase of 7.9%. Fiscal revenue in 2007 stood at 70.388billion RMB, 151times than that of 1958, or an average annual increase of 10.8%. In particular, from 2003 to 2007, GDP enjoyed an average annual increase of 12.8% and fiscal revenue increased annually by 18.2% on average. GDP in the first 3 quarters of 2008 enjoyed an increase of 13.1%, 3.2 percentage points higher than the national average level.

Second, economic structure has been greatly adjusted. The ratio of primary, secondary and tertiary industries has been adjusted from 51.8∶27.7∶20.5 in 1958 to 20.9∶40.7∶38.4 in 2007, marking the great change from agriculture-oriented industrial structure to industry-oriented one. Great changes have taken place in urban areas as urbanization ratio in Guangxi has increased from 9.47% in 1958 to 36.24% in 2007.

Third, infrastructure facilities and major projects have been developed rapidly. Total investment in fixed assets in 2007 was 297.008billion RMB, an increase of 856 times than that of 1958. Highway traffic mileage in 2007 was 94,200km, increased by 6.9times than that of 1958. More importantly, expressways have been developed from none to 1,879km in 2007. Port throughput was 113million tons, grown by 38.4times than that of 1958.

Fourth, the new pattern of reform and opening up has taken shape. Guangxi has opened itself to the outside world and carried out reforms since 1978, adding vitality to the modernization drive. Since 2004 when the 1st China-ASEAN Expo was held in Nanning----the permanent venue of CAEXPO, five sessions have been held with great successes. Foreign trade volume in Guangxi reached 9.28billion USD in 2007, among which, 5.11billion USD was generated from export, an increase of 179.9times and 98.7times respectively than those of 1958.

Fifth, Social undertakings have been developed in a comprehensive way. The comprehensive national education system has taken shape. In 2007, 9-year compulsory education has been basically realized. The number of enrolled students in institutes of higher learning has grown by 37.4times than that of 1958. Ethnic cultures have been flourished. Many excellent dramas have been created such as Songs on the Land of Guangxi and Mom and Her Son Seek for the Sun, which have won many national prizes. Cultural industry is developing rapidly. Many ethnic cultural brands have been built, such as the real-scene performance Impression•Liu's 3rd Sister.

Sixth, life of both urban and rural citizens has been remarkably improved. Per capita disposable income of urban residents reached 12,200RMB, 42times than that of 1978, or an average annual increase of 13.8%. Per capita net income for rural residents stood at 3,224RMB, 27 times than that of 1978, or an average annual increase of 12%. Social insurance system has increasingly covered more people and subsistence allowance system for both urban and rural residents has been established. The number of rural residents that have no adequate food and clothing declined from 21million in 1978 to 689,000 in 2007. Conditions of production and life in border areas, old revolutionary bases and poor areas have been tremendously improved.

Seventh, different ethnic groups are living together harmoniously. CPC's ethnic policies have been well implemented and ethnic legal system has been improved. The number of ethnic minority cadres has been greatly increased and the rights of ethnic minorities to participate in deliberating and administration of state affairs have been well protected. People from different ethnic groups treasure ethnic solidarity, as they treasure their eyes. It has become the social customs to safeguard and promote ethnic solidarity and progress. People from different ethnic groups believe that they are interdependent, so they respect each other, learn from each other, help each other and work hands by hands with each other towards common development.

II Experience accumulated in the past 50 years

We have not only made great achievements, but also accumulated valuable experience, which are vital to the development of Guangxi in the past 50 years.

First, we must stick to the leadership of CPC. The progress made in the past 50 years should be attributed to the correct leadership of CPC. The successive three generations of leadership of the CPC Central Committee, with late Mao Zedong, late Deng Xiaoping and Jiang Zeming as the core have attached great importance to the development of Guangxi and the welfare of local people. The current leadership of CPC Central Committee with General Secretary Hu jintao as the core has a high regard to the development of Guangxi and they have visited Guangxi for many times to show their care about the region and local people, greatly encouraging the local people to work hard for the development of Guangxi. Guangxi CPC committees at various levels have continuously provided strong guidance on ethnic affairs. Both the history and reality have shown that without the strong leadership of CPC, the system of regional ethnic autonomy cannot be created and Guangxi people from different ethnic groups cannot be emancipated and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region cannot gain prosperity.

Second, we must stick to socialism with Chinese characteristics. In the past 50 years, in particular, the past 30 years since the reform and opening up policy was adopted, Guangxi has unswervingly stuck to socialism with Chinese characteristics. Great successes have been scored in its modernization drive through freeing our mind, intensifying reform and opening wider to the outside world. Our practice tells us that only by sticking to socialism with Chinese characteristics can the ethnic autonomous region embrace a brighter future.

Third, we must stick to the scientific outlook on development. Our practice in the socialist modernization drive in the past 50 years indicates that the scientific outlook on development provides significant guidance on the economic and social development of Guangxi; as a result, it should be regarded as an important strategic thought that we should stick to and implement. Only by conscientiously implementing the scientific outlook on development in the economic and social development of Guangxi can we achieve fresh progress in all our undertakings.

Fourth, we must stick to the system of regional ethnic autonomy. In the past 50 years, Guangxi has adhered to and improved regional ethnic autonomy system and comprehensively implemented the Law of PRC on Regional National Autonomy to promote the economic and social progress. Practice has made it clear that regional ethnic autonomy is undoubtedly a piece of basic experience accumulated by the Party in handling ethnic issues, unshakably a basic political system in China and undiminishably a political merit in the development of socialism in China.

Fifth, we must stick to development as the priority task. Ethnic issues, in the final analysis, are an issue concerning development. Guangxi has regarded development of ethnic areas as the key to deal with ethnic issues in the past 30 years since its reform and opening up. Centering on economic development, Guangxi has done a lot to enhance its overall economic strength. Practice shows that only by regarding development as the priority task and realizing rapid and sound development can we meet the needs of people materially and culturally and solve difficulties ahead.

Sixth, we must stick to the socialist ethnic relations featured by equality, harmony, solidarity and mutual assistance. Our success story in the past 50 years reflects a fact that only by sticking to and consolidating the socialist ethnic relations featured by equality, harmony, solidarity and mutual assistance can we create a favorable environment for the socialist modernization drive, remarkably increase living conditions of people from various ethnic groups and fully guarantee the fundamental interests of ethnic groups.

III Develop ethnic affairs at a new historical height

Standing at a new historical height, Guangxi is embracing rare opportunities. The State Council approved Guangxi Beibu Gulf Economic Zone Development Scheme this year, bringing the opening, cooperation and economic and social development of Guangxi into a new height. With the intensified progress of West China Development Strategy, the Central Government has rendered more support to Guangxi with fund, projects and policies. The success of five sessions of China-ASEAN Expo and China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit in Nanning has created new strength for the opening and cooperation of Guangxi. In the past 50 years since the founding of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and in particular, in the past 30 years since its reform and opening up, Guangxi has laid the material foundations and accumulated valuable experience for its further development.

To grasp these opportunities, Guangxi has proposed the strategic goal of developing itself in a scientific, harmonious and leapfrogging way so that it can be developed into the new highland in the international and regional economic cooperation and the new growth pole in the coastal areas of China. With such a purpose, development will be prioritized on industries, transportation and Guangxi Beibu Gulf Economic Zone.

In the next 5 years, we'll prioritize the development of 7 industries so that these industries, such as food with sugar-making as the core will generate annual sales of over 100billion RMB.

In the next 5 years, we'll prioritize the development of transportation. With over 400billion RMB input, we'll see a new round of transportation infrastructure development. Thus, the passage linking Southwest China to the Sea will be more developed, the international passage to the Sea and Border will be initially formed and the transportation hub of Guangxi from China to ASEAN will be better reflected.

In the next 5 years, we'll prioritize the development of Guangxi Beibu Gulf Economic Zone. By fully utilizing the unique advantages of its geographical position, resources, policies and market, we'll gradually develop the Zone into the bases of logistics, business, processing and manufacturing as well as the center of information exchanges in the cooperation between China and ASEAN, so that it can become a crucial economic zone in the international and regional cooperation, a strategic highland to drive force the development of West China and a new growth pole in coastal China.

In the next 5 years, we'll continue to pool our efforts to host China-ASEAN Expo and actively participate in international cooperation such as PBG cooperation, GMS cooperation, China-Vietnam 2-Corridor-1-Belt cooperation and cooperation with domestic regions such as Pan Pearl River Delta, Yantze River Delta, Southwest China and Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan to continuously create a new pattern of opening and cooperation.

In the next 5 years, we'll strengthen our work concerning agriculture, rural areas and farmers to establish a new socialist countryside.

In the next 5 years, we'll continue to learn and well implement the Law of PRC on Regional National Autonomy and CPC's ethnic policies to consolidate the harmonious relations among various ethnic groups in Guangxi for common development.

In the next 5 years, we'll put people first to safeguard and improve their welfare.

We firmly believe that under the correct leadership of CPC Central Committee and the State Council, people of various ethnic groups in Guangxi will implement the scientific outlook on development in an overall way and work hard on the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics for a better future.

The development of Guangxi needs the support of people all walks of life domestically and internationally. Guangxi will adopt a broader perspective, more open ideas, and more pragmatic attitudes to welcome friends at home and abroad. We hope you can join us to promote the development of Guangxi by investing here. We also hope our media friends can continue to show your interests in Guangxi and make more publicity of the region. We sincerely invite you all to pay more visits to Guangxi and make more reports about Guangxi.