NE rejuvenation in operation, NE office to be established

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, November 28, 2003

NE rejuvenation in operation, NE office to be established

The establishment of a department for the planning of the adjustment and renovation of the Northeastern old industrial bases has been confirmed by the National Development and Reform Commission Wednesday.

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Following the first batch of over 100 projects with a total investment of 61 billion yuan, the second batch of projects to "Revive Northeast China" are expected to be determined in the near future. In addition, the news about the establishment of a "think tank" for the planning of the adjustment and renovation of the old industrial bases such as those in the northeastern region - Office of the Leading Group for Adjustment and Renovation of the Old Industrial Base under the State Council (Northeast Office for short) has been confirmed by a personage with the National Development and Reform Commission on Wednesday. This sign indicates that "Revive Northeast China" has entered the stage of substantial operation.

The second batch of projects expected to outnumber the first

It is learned that the examination work of the materials of the second batch of projects handed by the Northeastern three provinces has almost completed at the departments concerned of the National Development and Reform Commission. The result will be released in over one month.

According to relevant introduction, during the first application for projects, many regions and enterprises were very cautious and dared not apply rashly. After seeing the list of the first batch of projects issued by the National Development and Reform Commission, many regions and enterprises were very pleased with the great efforts made by the state to support the "rejuvenation of the northeast", they therefore tried to win a seat in the second batch. According to a personage concerned, the application materials from one province alone were three-four times those of the first batch and the projects able to get approval will possibly far outnumber those in the first batch. Although the approved projects may be greater in number, the project selection by the National Development and Reform Commission remains very strict and the planning for every industry is made in detail. Moreover, capital for the projects is expected to come from diverse channels. Apart from banking support, enterprises are asked to rely on themselves and seek diverse investment main bodies.

Though the second batch of projects is yet to be fixed, according to an analysis of the first batch of projects involving 61 billion yuan, most of the approved projects will enjoy a series of preferential policies such as discount government loans. In terms of geographic distribution, Liaoning Province, which boasts a most solid foundation in heavy industry, won 52 projects, 72.5 percent of the total of the first batch with an aggregate investment of over 44 billion yuan followed by Heilongjiang and Jilin provinces with 37 and 11 projects respectively. In terms of selection, the projects approved were generally enclosed within the superior fields such as equipment manufacturing, raw material processing and intensive processing of agricultural produce. "To make the past superior industries big and strong, and with novel and creative ideas, this should be the expectation and positioning for the industrial development of the northeast from the central government," experts concerned said.

Northeast Office to be established by referring to the model of "Office for Western Region Development"

The personage with the National Development and Reform Commission later confirmed that the State Council will refer to the standard of the Office of the Leading Group for Western Region Development of the State Council and meanwhile the specific institutions will be established under the name of the National Development and Reform Commission. Media reports say that the northeast office is now in the early-stage preparation and the director of the office will likely be the same Zhang Guobao, deputy director of the National Development and Reform Commission. The office plans to establish three major groups: the group of policy studies and system innovation (comprehensive group), the group for industry planning, the group for the coordination of industries concerned with a staff team numbering 20 and 6 posts of leaders of department level.

The duties of the northeast office are concentrated on the studies and suggestions on the rejuvenation strategies of the old industrial bases, specific planning, mayor issues and relevant policy and law;

--Providing guidance, and engaging in feasibility studies and comprehensive balance and linking of the rejuvenation planning of various regions;

--Studying and putting forward suggestions on the development of superior industries, the transformation of cities with exhausted resources, the distribution of key projects and coordinated operation;

--Studying and giving advice on the policy on deepening the reform in the old industrial bases, expanding the opening-up and introducing foreign capital, technology and talents;

--Coordinating the key infrastructure construction, ecological and environmental protection and construction, and the balanced development of industry and other industries etc.

Yuan Gangming, director of the macroeconomic office of the Institute of Economics under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, pointed out that the suggestion of the "Northeast Office" will probably create a new development model for the development of the old industrial bases and even the development of the national economy.

(Article from Beijing Youth Daily, translated by PD Online staff Gao Lanrong)

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