It is planning to become an international metropolis backed by three pillar industries - information technology (IT), and its logistic and financial sectors, according to the draft report of the city's 10th Five-Year Plan (2001-05) released at the city's Second Session of the Third People's Congress that opened yesterday.

The city has also set up a long-term plan to close the gap with developed countries by 2010. Over the next five years, the city will realize an average annual GDP growth rate of 12 percent, which will reach 300 billion yuan (US$36.1 billion) by 2005.

The industrial framework will be adjusted so that the added value from the service industry will contribute 50 percent to the GDP, while high-tech will account for half of the city's total industrial output value.

Convinced that an educated work force is crucial to its success, the municipal government will initiate a series of relaxed and flexible rules to attract professionals from home and abroad. It plans to attract 300,000 skilled people during the 10th Five-Year Plan period.

Moreover, the city will guarantee that the influx of educated personnel increase at a rate of 15 percent annually.

The deputies to the local people's congress suggested that the city should more clearly define the relationship between economic interests, social development and environmental protection to ensure the progress of the special economic zone.

The local government pledged to put 3 percent of its GDP into environmental protection. A huge investment of 3.5 billion yuan (US$421.7 million) will be dedicated to cleaning rivers in particular this year. People's living standard will further improve, with the average disposable income of residents reaching 33,000 yuan (US$3,980) by 2005, the report indicated.

Furthermore, the local government has promised to streamline the administration and enhance the transparency of government to provide a better investment environment, the report said.

Shenzhen has witnessed dramatic development over the past 20 years thanks to the country's reform and opening-up policy. But it should now go all out to create a new driving force if it is not to be elbowed out of the international race, said Mayor Yu Youjun.

The local government will pay attention to the high-tech industry, such as integrated circuitry, software, photo-electronics, computers, communications and digital electric appliances, Yu noted.

(China Daily 03/28/2001)