Senior Chinese leader asks Shanghai to upgrade growth pattern

: 0 Comments Print E-mail Xinhua, January 23, 2010

Adjust font size:

China's top political advisor Jia Qinglin Friday asked Shanghai, the economic center of the country, to upgrade its growth pattern through technology innovation and environmental protection.

In a working tour in Shanghai, Jia, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, said the city should use the upcoming World Expo as a "historical chance" to readjust its growth model and strive for stable and relatively fast economic growth.

Jia Qinglin (front), chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, inspects the control center of Yangtze River Bridge-tunnel in Shanghai municipality of east China, Jan. 22, 2010. [Xinhua]

The city on Thursday held the 100-day countdown for the six-month-long mega event.

Jia stressed the importance of industrial upgrading, brand marketing, research and development during visits to a shipbuilding factory of the China State Shipbuilding Corporation and the Shanghai Zhenhua Port Machinery Co. Ltd..

Jia Qinglin (front L), chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, inspects Shanghai Zhenhua Port Machinery Corp., in Shanghai municipality of east China, Jan. 22, 2010. [Xinhua]

He was upbeat about technological innovation adopted in the building of a bridge-tunnel project linking Shanghai with Chongming Island, China's third largest island located in the estuary of the Yangtze River.

The 25.5-kilometer project, including a 8.9-kilometer tunnel that boasts the world's largest diameter of its kind, and a 16.6-kilometer bridge, was open to traffic in October last year.

Jia Qinglin (C), chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, inspects Dongtan National Birds Nature Reserve in Shanghai municipality of east China, Jan. 22, 2010. [Xinhua]

Jia said the project well demonstrated how self-developed technology had been used to boost economic growth and social development.

In a visit to a bird sanctuary and a national forest park on Chongming Island, Jia also stressed the importance of sustainable development through more tree-planting efforts, resource and energy saving, and the development of low-carbon economy.

Jia Qinglin (2nd L), chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, inspects Changxing base of Jiangnan Shipyard Corp., in Shanghai municipality of east China, Jan. 22, 2010. [Xinhua]