Lin Shusen, mayor of Guangzhou, China's major southern gate
to the outside world, has vowed to make greater efforts to build
Guangzhou into a modern city by attracting outstanding professionals
from around the world.
With a history
of over 2,000 years, Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong Province,
has reached a per capita gross domestic product (GDP) of 30,000
yuan (US$3,614). It is No 1 among the 10 major Chinese cities
in terms of economic growth rate, volume of inflow of overseas
investment, and per capita disposable income of urban residents.
In an interview
with Xinhua news agency, Lin expressed confidence that Guangzhou's
economic vitality and efficient market mechanisms would be
attractive to domestic and overseas investors.
"More professionals
are needed to build the software base, an international biological
island, science town, a venture park for overseas Chinese
students and photoelectric valley," Lin said.
"Completion
of these projects will turn Guangzhou into a paradise for
high-tech research and industry," the mayor added.
Lin said that his
city had been working hard to create an environment conducive
to attracting prominent professionals and to encourage the
introduction of technology.
The efforts include
seminars on science and technology exchange for overseas Chinese
students, and special funds to aid overseas Chinese students
who recommend advanced scientific achievements to Guangzhou,
conduct academic exchanges in Guangzhou, or choose to serve
Guangzhou for short periods of time or to start up businesses
there.
The mayor also
promised to expand the service sector in Guangzhou and pay
greater attention to sustainable development in a bid to build
this southern city into an ideal place for doing business.
According to Lin,
Guangzhou expects to achieve an 11 percent economic growth
rate in the 10th Five-Year Plan period (2001-05) and achieve
a per capita GDP of more than US$6,000 by 2005.
(Xinhua 02/03/2001)
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