Protocol inked for Bo-hai Rim economic integration

On June 26, a framework protocol to push forward the Bohai-Rim regional economic integration was signed in Langfang, Hebei Province by the State Development and Reform Commission, Bo'ao Asian Forum Secretary-general Long Yongtu, and leaders from Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Shanxi, Inner Mongolia, Shandong and Liaoning.

The meeting has decided to put a three-layered architecture into place for the cooperation in this region. For the first layer, a joint conference, chaired by heads of the seven provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions from this region in rotation, will be held once every year to discuss significant issues of the regional cooperation.

For the second and third layer, coordinative systems will be built at the deputy secretary general level and departments level among the governments in this region.

Arrangements for the tasks in 2004 have also been made during the meeting. In 2005, Bohai-Rim will have its first business event staged in Langfang.

The significance of economic integration in Bohai-Rim has been recognized by local governments and various social circles in this region since the vision was initiated in 2001by Wu Liangyong, academician of both Chinese Academy of Sciences and Chinese Academy of Engineering.

The State Development and Reform Commission and its local branches in Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei reached "Langfang Consensus" in February this year. In May, the seven members in this region agreed in Beijing to hold a meeting among vice provincial top officials, establish a mechanism for the regional cooperation and have the resident task force responsible for the routine work in Langfang.

By People's Daily Online